PHR’s Volunteers & Supporters — An Appreciation and Thank You!

From its formative period back in 2015, Pete’s Hobby Railway has relied on a small band of volunteers and supporters – with the likes of Mario, Ben, Dave and Rhys (affectionally known as “The Flunky”) who came on board from the start to build the first stages, soon joined by Rob.

Along came Matt as a steam fitter, at times seeking the guidance of his dad Bill who has the same affliction.

Ably assisted by young Rhys who became the trainee apprentice, Matt commenced the so-far-uncompleted restoration, rebuild, overhaul (call it what you like!) of the 1900-vintage Fowler steam locomotive hulk.

Then there was Danny who, as a local plumber with an interest in steam, installed an outside sink with running cold (and hot!) water next to our Storage cum-Workshop for the benefit of the volunteers and refused to accept payment for it.

Local industry has also supported PHR, particularly with crane hire at short notice, and at most acceptable rates. When the local Council wanted a payment (to which I had objected to on principle) to consider an application for PHR to operate outside its approved hours in order to support the local Rhythm n Rail Festival, it was the local Business and Trades who frog-marched me up to Council with their cheque to lodge the application.

2016.4617: A long gap between sleeping resulted in the inevitable, with a track spread. Mario looks on with this crane, having lifted one end at a time to allow Ben and Rhys to place the sleeper packing under the ends of the locomotive. 04.11.2016.
 

Also early in the piece and out of the blue came along father and son Phil and Josh who initially took on the project of the building of the Loftus platform and waiting shed, then moved on to the design and construction of our turntable, along with the project management of our massive storage shed and associated trackwork. Where external contractors were required, it continues to be PHR’s policy to make use of local industry — from the supply and erection of the shed through to the electrics, etc.

2016.4996: Sidewalk supervisors as an external local contractor levels off the new Loftus platform. 29.11.2016.
 

There are the behind-the-scenes persons such as Nick, who although having no interest in railways as such, became PHR’s website guru and “events co-ordinator” or publicity merchant. I have Nick to blame for setting up and maintaining the PHR web page, as well as turning my “Project Reports” into something intelligent for the benefit on our on-line supporters.

Matt’s dad, Bill, has even greater steam fitting skills which have at times been called upon to keep our operating 1915-vintage steam locomotive in excellent running condition.

Then there was Maikha who popped in briefly from his home in South Australia to video the Junee Roundhouse 75th anniversary celebrations – at the same time producing an excellent short video on PHR operations, including aerial views and a descriptive interview with yours-truly. His 7½-minute video can be viewed on YouTube at:

2021.1721: 19.08.2021. Father and son Phil and Josh prepared for concreting the surrounds to the turntable.
 

Then it all fell apart. Mario relocated to his elderly mother’s acreage out near Capertee (Mudgee area), while Matt and “trainee apprentice” Rhys obtained full-time employment away from the district – I was pleased for them, particularly for Rhys.

The almost final crunch came when Josh’s dad Phil passed away suddenly from cancer. As memorialised in an earlier Progress Report, I had come to rely on these two in particular for the high standard of latter construction works on the Railway.

Bill set up his own trucking business and is now so busy contract hauling that PHR can only call on him in desperate emergencies, and then have to wait until he makes a rare visit home.

There followed a metamorphous of over a year when PHR almost went into hibernation. However, with the aid of Ben, Dave, Nick, and Rob, basic works continued, allowing for the occasional operation of the Railway. Unfortunately, owing to my age and physical condition (“oldness” as it has been called), I have not been able to actively participate in these works apart from in a nominal capacity. Instead, I have taken on the function of Official Photographer, duly recording all PHR construction works and the occasional operational activities.

In the latter half of 2024, PHR’s fortunes took a turn for the better. Josh has been able to return to the fold, taking over from where his dad had left off. He was able to locate a “FIFO” local contractor (a former school-mate of his) with the appropriate machinery who had the time and machinery available to undertake track formation construction works, of which more anon in a separate Report.

Also, Matt returned to Junee for part time local employment, with a desire to commence volunteer works on the Fowler rebuild.

2018.3389: It is not always “hard yakka” at Pete’s Hobby Railway… Rob, Bill, Matt and Rhys (looking a little sour at the camera), actually enjoying a pre-Christmas barbeque on my back veranda. 19.12.2018.
 

It all shows just how important and valued volunteers and supporters are to Pete’s Hobby Railway which could not be where it is today without their continued help.

As 2024 comes to an end, things are again looking brighter for Pete’s Hobby Railway.

Thank you all for your support, in one way or another, of Pete’s Hobby Railway. I really do appreciate it. It has been a dream of mine to preserve a small portion of Australia’s narrow gauge light railways rather than see it go to scrap. Collectively, you can all be proud of what you have done and/or are undertaking. THANK YOU.

Pete
Station Master, Loftus
Pete’s Hobby Railway.