Edgar Thomas Towner VC MC - Towner's Call

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Avril Fazel

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Towner's Call represents the service of Major Edgar Thomas Towner VC MC who was born in Blackall in 1890. He served in both the First and Second World Wars.  



The statue depicts Towner at the moment he collected his army kit on enlistment in January 1915. In one hand he holds his putties (leg wraps worn by the soldiers) on top of his folded uniform, in the other are his boots and slouch hat with the distinctive rising sun badge of the AIF. At his feet is an army duffle bag. Inscribed onto the bag is 'E T Towner 1067', the number being is war record service number. Edgar is represented wearing clothes he might have worn when he rode his horse into town to enlist off his property Valparosa, outside of Blackall. 



Inserted into the plinth the statue is mounted on are enlarged replicas of the Victoria Cross and Military Cross, Towner was awarded both and remains the highest awarded Queensland born soldier; awarded the Victoria Cross, Military Cross and was twice mentioned in dispatches. 



The statue represents, not only Edgar Towner but also the ‘call to arms’ that so many every day Australians heard, enlisting in our volunteer AIF.  



The official guest at the unveiling in 2009, was the Honourable Justice John Logan who as a young barrister stopped an attempt to sell Edgar Towner's medal set overseas. The medal set still is with a private collector. 



The statue was funded through significant donations by John and Geoffrey Townwer, two of Edgar Towner's nephews, and community and government grants. The inspiration for the statue came from Year 8 Blackall State School student, Ronan Robinson, who wrote a letter to the local paper asking why more had not been done to remember Edgar Thomas Towner. 



In 2015, the statue and the man whom it represents continues to inspire the young of Blackall. Bayley Williams, year 8, Blackall State School was inspired to learn more about Edgar Towner and used his interest to enter the Premier's Anzac Prize. This saw Bayley travel to Gallipoli for the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, attending the Dawn and Morning Services. He then travelled onto the Western Front. 



Out of Bayley's research into Edgar Towner, students have discovered he had a sister who also served in the First World War - Sister Greta Norman Towner.

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