Queensland school children holding guns a sign of 'special' relationship with Australian Army

During a visit to Gayndah the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment demonstrated an array of secured weapons to Gayndah school students.  (Supplied: Twitter)

A picture is worth a 1,000 words, and when images emerged of Queensland school children holding guns and rocket launchers, the online backlash was swift and widespread.

But locals in Gayndah — led by North Burnett Mayor Rachel Chambers — have defended the photographs, saying they had been misconstrued and blown out of proportion by critics on social media.

"This isn't the war story as it was made out to be," Cr Chambers said.

Cr Chambers said the Gayndah community had a special relationship with the Australian Defence Force that dated back more than a decade.

A soldier from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment demonstrates weaponry to a student from Gayndah State School.   (Supplied: Twitter)

In 2010, Gayndah-raised Sapper Jacob Moerland, 21, was killed when an improvised explosive device was tripped during a foot patrol in Afghanistan.

"Jacob was a much-loved larrikin in Gayndah and a [former] student at Gayndah State School and then at Burnett State College," Cr Chambers said.

At just 21, Sapper Jacob Moerland, from Gayndah, was killed by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol in Afghanistan in 2010. (Supplied: Australian Defence Force)

"They kick the footy, talk about teamwork, they demonstrate the various roles of the defence force, including explosives detection. 

Parents and locals have thrown their support behind the regiment's visits to Gayndah.

"Like many parents, I was there with our boys" parent Ben Golchert said.

"They had a great time, got to see something they normally wouldn't.

Soldiers from 2CER return annually to Gayndah to honour their fallen comrade and local man, Sapper Jacob Moerland.  (Supplied: Twitter)

Another local, Tammy Shorten, said the late Sapper Moerland and his family were "much-loved members of the community".

"It is great that the 2CER [regiment] come back all the time to help honour them. They do a fantastic job in our community," Ms Shorten said.

A Defence spokesperson said routine training and community engagement events were conducted in Gayndah for two weeks in July, 2021.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said students benefited from an interactive, informative discussion about weapons.

"The soldiers explained the dangers of weapons, what they are used for, and how the regiment trains with them," the spokesperson said.

"The school and local community honour those [who] have fallen while selflessly serving our country."

Honouring a fallen soldier

Cr Chambers said the death of Sapper Moerland had devastated his family and rocked the close-knit community. 

The 2nd Combat Engineer regiment continue to visit the community, more than a decade later. 

Sapper Jacob Moerland with his fiancee, Kezia Mulcahy, before he died in 2010.  (Supplied: Australian Defence Force)

"The regiment also comes back each Anzac Day to spend the day with Jacob's mum and sister, the RSL and their extended Gayndah community," she said.