ROBERTSON HERITAGE RAILWAY STATION INC (RHRS)
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 26 SEPTEMBER 2019
PRESIDENT’S REPORT - NEIL HARVEY
I think it is fair to say that the last year has been a successful one for RHRS. The intention from the start was to recognise the need to reduce our workload given the fact that we only have a few active members and since most of us are above 65 years of age a less physically demanding approach seemed necessary. We have, by and large, achieved this. Our ordinary meetings were reduced in number without losing control over those essential things that must be done for legal, safety and efficiency reasons. We are beginning to use outside labour where we can and we now have a banking system that is online and simpler to use. Rona Goold has improved the website and we are beginning use Facebook more which is a fairly easy way to advertise events successfully without letter-drops and the like. Having said that we did remain busy with the usual annual events being approached in a committed and conscientious manner - which is simply the way we do things at RHRS.
Finances have been maintained at a healthy level throughout the year, which is in contrast to many volunteer organisations, thanks to the professional oversight of our Treasurer Anne Wilson. Of course this has not been achieved without the efforts of all of us and the events we have held including the re-introduction of The Cockatoo Run.
The most significant event is the re-introduction of The Cockatoo Run early in 2019. This iconic heritage train had ceased operating for almost two years and its regular and frequent appearance was missed by RHRS both from an interest point of view and also financially. Its re-introduction is warmly welcomed and we have developed a very good working relationship with East Coast Heritage Rail, the operators of The Cockatoo Run as well as the general business community of Robertson who financially benefit from the train’s return. A very pleasing outcome of the train’s return is the uptake of ticket sales for the “Moss Vale Loop Line” run, as termed by RHRS. In previous years sales were essentially insignificant for this trip but this year we have seen a very large increase in ticket sales. This, I think, has been largely due to the fact that we are beginning to use Facebook better which has helped advertise the Moss Vale Loop Line journey and this has been met with great interest and patronage. Also, and just as importantly, personal accounts of those who do travel on this trip indicate they have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and our standing in the community is more known and appreciated as a result.
Our Classic Car Event again attracted many entrants, perhaps about 150 cars which is very pleasing. The event is very interesting and features excellent examples of classic cars in beautiful condition. The event also brought in large numbers of spectators and our cafe did well out of this. Steve Carey once again proved an invaluable asset in organising the Classic Car Event as it seemed to go very smoothly and was enjoyed by all who attended - entrants and spectators alike.
The Heritage Art Prize distinguished itself this year with excellent artwork being presented in our gallery. I am no art critic but in my honest opinion, but more importantly from what I heard from others, the quality was excellent. Putting on such an exhibition is not easy and takes a lot of time to organise so I must commend Anne Wilson for her work on this event. Anne has always been committed to the art scene and her efforts are very much appreciated.
Our Waratah Open Gardens also went off very well last October despite the fact that even the Southern Highlands suffered from lack of rain which we thought would severely effect our flower displays. The waratahs flowers were, perhaps, not as voluminous as before but in total the display was spectacular nonetheless and did provide a healthy source of income for us by way of flower sales. I think it is fair to say that our gardens have achieved excellent acclaim. This would not have been possible without the initial development of the gardens by Helen and David Tranter but also by the indefatigable efforts of Ian Wallace who very conscientiously has maintained the gardens at a high standard. Ian has also developed a very good working relationship with the Department of Corrective Services, Bowral Office who work very hard and help us enormously to maintain the gardens and lawns. In addition to the gardens the detention people were most helpful in constructing a two-bay compost area. They enthusiastically got involved and whilst their involvement is not exactly voluntary they seemed to enjoy their involvement in the construction of this useful asset.
Safety is an important consideration for every organisation and RHRS is no exception. I reviewed the Safety Management System (SMS) at the beginning of the year to ensure its appropriateness. I am pleased to say that no accidents or injuries occurred during the year. An important note to make is that at the time of writing I am awaiting a report from an authorised asbestos inspection officer who was appointed by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC). I met with the inspector on 21 September and he advised me that following an inspection five years previously it was shown that parts of the Fettlers Shed Gallery, lamp room and station building do in fact contain asbestos even though RHRS has never received a report about this. In particular some of the walls in the gallery, after analysis, showed positive for asbestos, the “fibro” parts of the lamp shed are also positive and so too is the switch board backing-board on the station platform. This does not in itself cause a problem if the asbestos is left alone. However, any drilling, sanding or cutting of these does cause a health risk. As such the SMS will be adjusted to include appropriate precautions which must be taken before any work is carried out on the walls. Additionally, the walls in the gallery must display a small warning sign and these have already been placed in positions that should not detract from any presentations or displays but are still obvious enough to anyone who is doing work.
Maintenance is also an ongoing issue and must be so if the station and grounds are protected and present well and, of course, for safety to be maintained. This year it was necessary to replace the hinges on two of the station platform gates as they had seized. Additionally it was decided that the chain at the eastern entrance of the Common should be replaced with a steel gate. I very much appreciate the professional work of John Hopkins for attending to these matters. The gate at the Common is much easier to use, is more obvious which enhances safety and looks and works so much better.
At the beginning of the year I raised the issue of the shabby paintwork of the heritage-listed buildings and voiced my frustration that despite our best efforts we were unable to have them painted by ARTC. I know all of us have been frustrated with this lack of progress. As such RHRS has sought a different approach and earlier this year we submitted an application to Transport Heritage NSW for a grant of $15,000 (including GST). This amount is the maximum for which we can apply and means that in the event we are successful only the station building itself can be repainted. The other structures, notably the signal box, station sign and lamp shed are probably within our financial and physical capacity to attend to. At the time of writing we are still waiting for the outcome of our grant application. I believe the application was done very well and I remain hopeful of a good outcome, but given that the grants are very competitive, we can’t assume we will be successful. We will also keep in mind that other grants are also available and these should be pursued when they are open for submissions.
The Model Train Group has been quite busy this year. The biggest challenge is the limited space available and of course the gallery is a shared space. Having said that we have a small but committed group who are doing really good work. It is a source of interest and recreation not only to the model group but also to those who visit us and view the model railway displays.
Helen Tranter has continued to manage the history side. Helen has worked on this for a very long time and has researched, documented and filed a lot of information about Robertson which will be maintained. Helen has advised that whilst she will not be seeking re-election onto the new committee her work and interest in Robertson’s history will continue. It would be very remiss of me not to mention Helen’s dedication and commitment. I suspect that Helen feels embarrassed about anyone mentioning her efforts since she has always been humble in her approach and never seemed to seek recognition. However, it would be neglectful of me not to mention that without Helen’s (and David’s) hard work, commitment (and sheer doggedness at times) RHRS would not exist at all. Helen has been a member of several environmental groups for many years and has been recognised as a prodigious worker for this cause. The community is indebted to her efforts and so are we. Thank-you Helen for what you have done over many years for RHRS and the community generally.
One project that RHRS did not complete is that of the Information Signs we intended to erect in front of the station building. Time was the main factor for me given the other commitments I have. However, RHRS has taken initial steps to apply for funds under Round 5 – of the Stronger Communities Programme .This project should remain active however and hopefully the new administration will pursue funding as agreed at our last Management Committee meeting.
Finally I would like to thank everyone on the committee for their support. Rona, Steve and Anne you have been hugely supportive of me in my presidency generally but I would like to voice my appreciation for the way you stepped in and ran the place during my recent overseas trip. Ian, your commitment to the gardens, your knowledge of trains, your contacts with train operators and your work ethic has been enormously valued and appreciated. John, your practical application to practical things is excellent, your quiet wisdom is very much appreciated and of course our trusty, wise and efficient Treasurer Anne is always appreciated and relied upon. Anne always seems to bring a nice practical balance to whatever we do!
Regards,
Neil Harvey
President RHRS Inc
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 26 SEPTEMBER 2019
PRESIDENT’S REPORT - NEIL HARVEY
I think it is fair to say that the last year has been a successful one for RHRS. The intention from the start was to recognise the need to reduce our workload given the fact that we only have a few active members and since most of us are above 65 years of age a less physically demanding approach seemed necessary. We have, by and large, achieved this. Our ordinary meetings were reduced in number without losing control over those essential things that must be done for legal, safety and efficiency reasons. We are beginning to use outside labour where we can and we now have a banking system that is online and simpler to use. Rona Goold has improved the website and we are beginning use Facebook more which is a fairly easy way to advertise events successfully without letter-drops and the like. Having said that we did remain busy with the usual annual events being approached in a committed and conscientious manner - which is simply the way we do things at RHRS.
Finances have been maintained at a healthy level throughout the year, which is in contrast to many volunteer organisations, thanks to the professional oversight of our Treasurer Anne Wilson. Of course this has not been achieved without the efforts of all of us and the events we have held including the re-introduction of The Cockatoo Run.
The most significant event is the re-introduction of The Cockatoo Run early in 2019. This iconic heritage train had ceased operating for almost two years and its regular and frequent appearance was missed by RHRS both from an interest point of view and also financially. Its re-introduction is warmly welcomed and we have developed a very good working relationship with East Coast Heritage Rail, the operators of The Cockatoo Run as well as the general business community of Robertson who financially benefit from the train’s return. A very pleasing outcome of the train’s return is the uptake of ticket sales for the “Moss Vale Loop Line” run, as termed by RHRS. In previous years sales were essentially insignificant for this trip but this year we have seen a very large increase in ticket sales. This, I think, has been largely due to the fact that we are beginning to use Facebook better which has helped advertise the Moss Vale Loop Line journey and this has been met with great interest and patronage. Also, and just as importantly, personal accounts of those who do travel on this trip indicate they have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and our standing in the community is more known and appreciated as a result.
Our Classic Car Event again attracted many entrants, perhaps about 150 cars which is very pleasing. The event is very interesting and features excellent examples of classic cars in beautiful condition. The event also brought in large numbers of spectators and our cafe did well out of this. Steve Carey once again proved an invaluable asset in organising the Classic Car Event as it seemed to go very smoothly and was enjoyed by all who attended - entrants and spectators alike.
The Heritage Art Prize distinguished itself this year with excellent artwork being presented in our gallery. I am no art critic but in my honest opinion, but more importantly from what I heard from others, the quality was excellent. Putting on such an exhibition is not easy and takes a lot of time to organise so I must commend Anne Wilson for her work on this event. Anne has always been committed to the art scene and her efforts are very much appreciated.
Our Waratah Open Gardens also went off very well last October despite the fact that even the Southern Highlands suffered from lack of rain which we thought would severely effect our flower displays. The waratahs flowers were, perhaps, not as voluminous as before but in total the display was spectacular nonetheless and did provide a healthy source of income for us by way of flower sales. I think it is fair to say that our gardens have achieved excellent acclaim. This would not have been possible without the initial development of the gardens by Helen and David Tranter but also by the indefatigable efforts of Ian Wallace who very conscientiously has maintained the gardens at a high standard. Ian has also developed a very good working relationship with the Department of Corrective Services, Bowral Office who work very hard and help us enormously to maintain the gardens and lawns. In addition to the gardens the detention people were most helpful in constructing a two-bay compost area. They enthusiastically got involved and whilst their involvement is not exactly voluntary they seemed to enjoy their involvement in the construction of this useful asset.
Safety is an important consideration for every organisation and RHRS is no exception. I reviewed the Safety Management System (SMS) at the beginning of the year to ensure its appropriateness. I am pleased to say that no accidents or injuries occurred during the year. An important note to make is that at the time of writing I am awaiting a report from an authorised asbestos inspection officer who was appointed by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC). I met with the inspector on 21 September and he advised me that following an inspection five years previously it was shown that parts of the Fettlers Shed Gallery, lamp room and station building do in fact contain asbestos even though RHRS has never received a report about this. In particular some of the walls in the gallery, after analysis, showed positive for asbestos, the “fibro” parts of the lamp shed are also positive and so too is the switch board backing-board on the station platform. This does not in itself cause a problem if the asbestos is left alone. However, any drilling, sanding or cutting of these does cause a health risk. As such the SMS will be adjusted to include appropriate precautions which must be taken before any work is carried out on the walls. Additionally, the walls in the gallery must display a small warning sign and these have already been placed in positions that should not detract from any presentations or displays but are still obvious enough to anyone who is doing work.
Maintenance is also an ongoing issue and must be so if the station and grounds are protected and present well and, of course, for safety to be maintained. This year it was necessary to replace the hinges on two of the station platform gates as they had seized. Additionally it was decided that the chain at the eastern entrance of the Common should be replaced with a steel gate. I very much appreciate the professional work of John Hopkins for attending to these matters. The gate at the Common is much easier to use, is more obvious which enhances safety and looks and works so much better.
At the beginning of the year I raised the issue of the shabby paintwork of the heritage-listed buildings and voiced my frustration that despite our best efforts we were unable to have them painted by ARTC. I know all of us have been frustrated with this lack of progress. As such RHRS has sought a different approach and earlier this year we submitted an application to Transport Heritage NSW for a grant of $15,000 (including GST). This amount is the maximum for which we can apply and means that in the event we are successful only the station building itself can be repainted. The other structures, notably the signal box, station sign and lamp shed are probably within our financial and physical capacity to attend to. At the time of writing we are still waiting for the outcome of our grant application. I believe the application was done very well and I remain hopeful of a good outcome, but given that the grants are very competitive, we can’t assume we will be successful. We will also keep in mind that other grants are also available and these should be pursued when they are open for submissions.
The Model Train Group has been quite busy this year. The biggest challenge is the limited space available and of course the gallery is a shared space. Having said that we have a small but committed group who are doing really good work. It is a source of interest and recreation not only to the model group but also to those who visit us and view the model railway displays.
Helen Tranter has continued to manage the history side. Helen has worked on this for a very long time and has researched, documented and filed a lot of information about Robertson which will be maintained. Helen has advised that whilst she will not be seeking re-election onto the new committee her work and interest in Robertson’s history will continue. It would be very remiss of me not to mention Helen’s dedication and commitment. I suspect that Helen feels embarrassed about anyone mentioning her efforts since she has always been humble in her approach and never seemed to seek recognition. However, it would be neglectful of me not to mention that without Helen’s (and David’s) hard work, commitment (and sheer doggedness at times) RHRS would not exist at all. Helen has been a member of several environmental groups for many years and has been recognised as a prodigious worker for this cause. The community is indebted to her efforts and so are we. Thank-you Helen for what you have done over many years for RHRS and the community generally.
One project that RHRS did not complete is that of the Information Signs we intended to erect in front of the station building. Time was the main factor for me given the other commitments I have. However, RHRS has taken initial steps to apply for funds under Round 5 – of the Stronger Communities Programme .This project should remain active however and hopefully the new administration will pursue funding as agreed at our last Management Committee meeting.
Finally I would like to thank everyone on the committee for their support. Rona, Steve and Anne you have been hugely supportive of me in my presidency generally but I would like to voice my appreciation for the way you stepped in and ran the place during my recent overseas trip. Ian, your commitment to the gardens, your knowledge of trains, your contacts with train operators and your work ethic has been enormously valued and appreciated. John, your practical application to practical things is excellent, your quiet wisdom is very much appreciated and of course our trusty, wise and efficient Treasurer Anne is always appreciated and relied upon. Anne always seems to bring a nice practical balance to whatever we do!
Regards,
Neil Harvey
President RHRS Inc