A very enjoyable morning tea was held at the Roundhouse following the unveiling of four memorial plaques. Vince Hollis welcomed all those present and spoke of the dedicated service of the four volunteers being honoured.
Families and friends and other volunteers looked on, along with members of the Junee Railway Workshop. It was great to have a united Junee Roundhouse gathering as it is not often that members from both halves have the opportunity to meet socially.
The four volunteers being remembered were: Keith Hargraves, Neville Hyde, Peter Mack and Harry Porter who all contributed in their own special way as volunteers. Volunteering at the Roundhouse Museum often sees people finding their niche and then ‘getting on with it’. Keith Hargraves was responsible for establishing the gardens around the museum which are often commented upon by visitors. They form a great backbone for the newer gardens that have been established.
Several members of his family were in attendance. Over the years Harry Porter in true Harry style kept visitors entertained as a tour guide and with assistance from another volunteer, Sandra Hayman, he continued to visit on a Tuesday for quite some time after becoming ill. Harry and his endless supply of stories is much missed.
I remember him telling me once that he sent the Southern Aurora into the goods yard when he pulled off a wrong signal lever. I wonder if he copped a bung?
It was great to have members of Harry’s family in attendance, some of whom had travelled long distances to attend. Neville Hyde would take his chair into the Roundhouse and dispense a wealth of knowledge to other volunteers and visitors. Along with his dog, Little Dog, Neville answered an unending supply of visitor questions.
3609 was one of the last exhibits that Neville worked on and without his input some parts might have ended up the wrong way round or on the wrong side. We really miss his knowledge of the steam era. It was wonderful to have Neville’s wife, Estelle and members of their family joining with us. Estelle is also a volunteer and the quip was made that she must be the “oldest check-out chick” in Australia. I think someone’s ears might have been boxed if they had been a bit closer.
Peter Mack’s wife, Lorraine joined in the celebration and it was great to be able to talk about Peter’s time as a volunteer and the endless maintenance work he assisted with over the years. We are always reminded of Peter whenever we change the open and closed sign; one of Peter’s creations. This is the first such commemoration for our much-valued volunteers who are no longer with us. We miss them and we now have a reminder that will perhaps prompt others to ask: Who are they? What did they do? And their contribution will not be forgotten.
Noelene Milliken
Roundhouse MuseumVolunteer
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