The Atherton Tablelands west of Cairns played an important military role during World War II.
Between 1942 and 1945 the region was home to the largest medical field hospital in the southern hemisphere, with about 60,000 patients cared for by more than 2,000 staff.
In addition to this, more than 100,000 troops, primarily of the 6th, 7th and 9th Divisions (2nd Australian Imperial Force), completed their jungle warfare training between Mareeba and Atherton.
History buffs, amateur historians and relatives of World War II diggers can now retrace the steps of their forefathers with a new tour that visits military sites of significance on the Tablelands.
The four-hour tour is run by volunteers in conjunction with National Servicemen's Association of Australia (NSAA) Tablelands branch and the Rotary Club of Atherton.
The tour takes in the third-largest military cemetery in Queensland as well as the Tolga Museum, the Rocky Creek War Memorial, the hospital ruins and the so-called Igloo, which was used as an entertainment complex for servicemen and women.
An idea to launch a tour
Nicole Smith from the Atherton Tablelands Information Centre said the idea for the tour came after NSAA Tablelands branch president John Hardy took a few of the volunteers from the centre on an informal tour around local military sites.
"John has so much local knowledge, so we put our heads together and we came up with an organised tour," she said.
"The last place we visit is the war cemetery where we hold a commemorative service."
Proceeds from the tours go to the NSAA Tablelands branch, the Rocky Creek Rotary Igloo Restoration Project, the Rocky Creek War Memorial Park and the Tolga Museum.
A staging post in the Tablelands
Ms Smith said the tour was important to keep the memories alive of people who served and trained in Far North Queensland
'We ask people before they go on the tour about their family history, and we often find that their relatives did spend time here," she said.
"We also often find photos of their family members in our albums, which is pretty rewarding,"
Field Marshall Sir Thomas Blamey selected the Tablelands area in 1942 as an ideal staging post for the war in the south-west Pacific against the advancing Imperial Japanese Army.
The climate, location, terrain and proximity to resupply lines and battlefronts all played a part in his decision.
Keeping history alive
Mr Hardy said a lot of history was being forgotten when it came to North Queensland's involvement in World War II.
"People don't realise just how many servicemen and women were here. We had over 600 units stationed here during World War II," Mr Hardy said.
He said they started the tour last year just "as a trial".
"Primarily we are getting baby boomers on the tour who are retracing their parents or distant relatives' footsteps."
Brian Bromfield from Bathurst decided to do the tour after researching his family's military history.
"Nicole did some research and we found out that, not only was my uncle sent to Tobruk, but he was actually here on the Tablelands in 1943 and then again in 1945," he said.
"The tour has made me realise just how hard it must have been for them. There were no frills and you just got through as best you could."
