AUSTRALIA’S only human cannonball, Warren Brophy, will spend the weekend squeezing his 1.82-metre body inside a 60cm diameter cannon at The Ipswich Show.

Brophy, one of only a dozen people who still perform as human cannonballs, will then hear the crowd chant the 10-second countdown before he eventually flies 40 metres at 6Gs of force, travelling at 60km/h, with only a crash hat for protection.

He is a seventh-generation circus performer and has been performing since he was just two years old.
Brophy, who will perform in the Main Arena, during the three-day spectacular, said he is the only person in Australia still performing the act from the 8.5-metre long cannon that weighs about 1.5 tonnes.

He said tens of people have died who failed to find the safety net on the other side of the arena.

Brophy, is from a family whose involvement in show business dates back to the early 1900s.

This performance has a long history with its roots in old-time circuses and agricultural shows, but the inner workings of the cannon remain an industry secret.

Brophy had his cannon designed and built in America by a family who held the world record for human cannonballs.
“It’s a unique act and the only way to learn is to be lucky enough to know other cannonball performers who are willing to teach you their craft,” he said.
“I knew a woman who had performed this act for 25 years and was retiring so she sold me her cannon.
“I had to fly to the US and had it redesigned to fit my height and weight and then had it shipped to Australia.”

Brophy remains confident careers like his will continue.

“I love it, we get to tour a lot and travel around the world. That’s what we are here to do, entertain – people will never get bored with being entertained.

“I’m on the road performing lots of events every weekend.

“There’s so much preparation and behind the scenes stuff that we must consider.”

If that isn’t enough to please the adrenaline junkies, Brophy will also take on the wheel of steel, which involves running, skipping, jumping, and performing acrobatics on the inside and outside of a rotating hamster wheel that reaches a height of 11 metres.

The thrilling display is performed without the aid of safety nets or wires.