Blast from the Past – Bomb Technicians Short 150 Year History of QLD Explosive Incidents and Annual General Meeting

The ANZFSS Queensland Branch is pleased to welcome Sergeant Mick Gardiner to present our October seminar and Annual General Meeting.

Sergeant Mick Gardiner, Senior Police Bomb Technician will outline how bomb response has changed over the years, drawing from his 30 years’ experience in the EORT. He will also offer you a look at some of the most interesting and sometimes unbelievable bomb incidents that have occurred over the last 150 years, a history maybe you never knew existed.

Featured Speaker: Sergeant Mick Gardiner

Joining the EORT part-time in 1995 as a Police Bomb Search and Identification Officer, then a Police Bomb Technician in 1998. He became the 10th ever full-time EORT member in 1999. He has responded personally to almost every major bomb related incident that has occurred in Queensland over this, including most of the more recent incidents presented in his book. In 2026 he became the first QPS Bomb Technician to be recognised by the Supreme Court as a subject matter expert, giving professional opinion evidence in relation to charges of preparations for a terrorism act. Long-term member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators (IABTI), a member of the US Bomb Technician Association (USBTA), and in 2026 he was honoured to be made a founding member of the International Guild of Master Bomb Technicians (IGMBT). Mick authored the book “Blast from the Past: A Bomb Technician’s short 150-year history of Queensland explosive incidents”, where 100% of the profits from book sales go direct to Qld Police Legacy in support of their amazing work.

AGM Details:

The evening will begin with the Annual General Meeting at 6:00 pm, before the presentation begins at 6:30 pm. Light refreshments will be provided at the conclusion of the event.

Nomitations to join the comittee should be submitted by the 13th of November to qldbranch@anzfss.org. Forms can be accessed here: QLD Branch Nomination Form