It has got to be a dream come true for any Star Wars fan growing up in the 1980s and enthralled by the original trilogy — to eventually work on and play a role in the franchise itself.

That is the reality for Warren Duxbury, now a Bundaberg school teacher.

"It goes all the way back to 1980 when I went and saw The Empire Strikes Back," Mr Duxbury said.

"Believe it or not, I didn't get to see the first Star Wars film at the cinema, but when I saw The Empire Strikes Back, it popped out at me in a way that no 3D movie did, even now.

"It sucked me into that galaxy far, far away and I've just loved it ever since."

Dressing up for charity

Walking into Mr Duxbury's home is a Star Wars fan's dream.

Yoda sits under the Christmas tree and over in the corner is a full-sized scout trooper costume.

Bundaberg high school teacher and former puppeteer Warren Duxbury. ( ABC Wide Bay: Ross Kay )

It is one of the many costumes he has worn to raise money for charities as a member of Queensland Australia Star Wars Appreciation Society, better known as QASWAS.

"We know that there are big organisations like the 501st [Legion] that look after a lot of people in major centres," he said.

"But our group, as well as having some members of the 501st, are more focused on trying to help out people in regional centres.

"We have a great time dressing up as well and the smiles on the kids' faces is a big payoff.

"Mums want to cosy up to the stormtroopers — something about the uniform I think, I don't know."

In his garage are full scale costumes for Darth Maul, Darth Vader and the white-clad Imperial Stormtrooper.

"Looking at some of the costumes we put together as a group, we came to the realisation that they are all bad guys [so] maybe they're more fun to dress up as," Mr Duxbury said.

"The majority of people that join the group, their first question is: 'where do I get a Stormtrooper suit?' or 'where can I get a Darth Vader suit?'"

Stormtroopers of various types will feature heavily in the new Star Wars film Rogue One. ( ABC Wide Bay: Ross Kay )

Working on Attack of the Clones

Most of the filming of episode two of the Star Wars prequels, between June and September 2000, took place at Fox Studios in Sydney.

At the time, Mr Duxbury was working at Foxtel in Sydney as a puppeteer.

Sitting in pride of place in Warren's collection is this memento from the Star Wars Episode II experience. ( ABC Wide Bay: Ross Kay )

"I was brought on board to operate a whole heap of puppets that had been flown out from the creature department in the US," he said.

"They were the types of things you couldn't really put an extra in."

In Attack of the Clones, director George Lucas took more of a lean towards using computer-generated imagery (CGI).

This meant many of the puppets that Mr Duxbury maintained and operated were not used in the final edit.

But he was involved in the droid and creatures department, costuming the many extras involved in the production and has two credits to his name — one as a senator's aide and the other as a character called Ketwol.

"I'm in the background in one of the scenes where, if you're familiar with episode two, Obi Wan Kenobi is looking for some information about a small dart that has been fired by one of the bounty hunters," he said.

"He goes to meet a guy who runs a shady diner. For a split second if you look over Obi Wan's Shoulder you'll see me there in a suit that has a big elephant's trunk.

"He actually was made into an action figure; I got scanned later that day in the outfit and the character was called Ketwol, so you can actually go and buy this action figure."

The Queensland Star Wars Appreciation Society has helped raised money for charities across regional Queensland. ( ABC Wide Bay: Ross Kay )

Passion reignited by next generation

Looking ahead at the future of the franchise, with the new Rogue One movie and at least a movie a year for the next four years, Mr Duxbury said the enjoyment his children got out of Star Wars was the biggest thrill.

"My daughters have reignited that passion again because they're getting into the franchise as well," he said.

"My seven-year-old has an interest in the characters, but my 10-year-old is delving deep into some back stories and really getting into anticipating what might be happening in this trilogy that's out there at the moment.

"Also for me it's the awareness now that it there now, they're talking about the trilogy after [Episodes VII-IX].

"For a long time there I thought it was all wrapped up and all we can do is look back. We'll never get to see the last Star Wars film, it will outlive us."

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