The story of Pozieres:
Nothing that has happened at Pozieres since 1920 could ever have attracted the national attention given to the visit of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, on the occasion of the opening of the Branch Railway Line from Cottonvale to Amiens. A guard of honour of Returned Servicemen proudly honoured the Royal visitor on July 26th, 1920.
In contrast, the closure of the Branch Line on 28th October 1974, was accomplished quietly and with little or no protest or public recognition. It was no longer the life-line to the settlements along its route.
Before Pozieres became the centre of apple orchards, farmers grew vegetables while waiting for their fruit trees to bear. In 1924, a Packing Shed was operating for tomatoes, using Mr. Frank Bull’s shed, which was situated near the Railway Station, and the use of which was acquired gratis.
The Shed was managed by 17-year-old Harold Phillips, who was a trainee of Mr. William Rowlands from the Department of Agriculture, and who hailed from Tasmania. Imagine the excitement of the people of Pozieres when a British Empire Exhibition film crew arrived to film tomato packing, the latest Queensland way! The packing stands had to be set up outside the shed because of the light, and the film was made showing the latest tomato packing methods in vogue at the time.
Community spirit was always strong among the residents of the village, and it was not long before it was decided that money should be raised to build a Church. Various money-making functions were held – dances in a private home, sports and concerts. The project was changed after some time to the building of a Public Hall instead of a Church. This, it was argued, could be used by any denomination for Church Services, and it could also be used for dances, picture-shows, card parties, concerts and so on, to raise money without showing any disrespect for the building.
At the beginning, Sports were held at the Railway Station and athletics and horse events were always keenly contested.
Sport was always an important part of the social scene with soccer, cricket and tennis being popular pastimes. Teams from Pozieres competed against other centres. Keen sports’ supporter, Dave Watters, had a truck and he transported the sporting teams to all parts of the district.
