A much-loved community attraction which draws hundreds of Sunshine Coast residents to its monthly family-friendly events is calling for volunteers to climb on board as organisers work to secure its future for the next generation.
The Sunshine Coast Railway Modellers Society, which operates the miniature railway at Nambour, says it urgently needs new members to help maintain the facilities.
Society member Ken Coulter said attracting new volunteers had become increasingly important as demand for the railway continued to grow.
“With hundreds of visitors coming to ride on our trains every month, we have to ensure our railway is ready, which means our nearly one-kilometre of track is operational and we have sufficient trains and volunteers,” he said.
Mr Coulter said the organisation faced a challenge shared by many community groups, with experienced and ageing members looking to pass on their knowledge to a new generation.
“Basically, we urgently have to have more members to ensure our operation can continue,” he said.
“Without more members, we realise we will not be able to provide the train days for residents as we currently operate.”
The society’s public train days have become a popular outing for families across the region, with visitors of all ages riding the miniature trains.
Established in 1980, the railway is one of the oldest miniature railways in Australia and has undergone a series of extensions and upgrades during its 45-year history.
Mr Coulter said volunteers were involved in a wide range of roles, including track maintenance, locomotive and carriage upkeep, electrical work, ticket sales and helping with fundraising activities.
The society operates its own fleet of locomotives and carriages and provides training for members interested in learning how to drive the trains or assist with railway operations.
“At present, we still have members with experience in maintaining the track and such things as operating and maintaining our locomotives and carriages,” he said.
“However, we urgently need to train a new generation to take over these experiences.”
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Mr Coulter said people did not need previous railway experience to get involved, but did require a government-issued blue card.
For more about the society, visit here.
