TRAINS FOR KIDS WITH CANCER
PART 1
I sit here typing this, quite quickly due to a holiday starting tomorrow, soon after finishing our very first 'Trains For Kids With Cancer' fundraising event.
To say I am tired is a huge understatement. While not being the face of it all, that privilege (if you would call it that) falls upon my dear friend David Xuereb, the late nights of promotional work, coupled with some promoting on location, has certainly been draining for an old buggar like me :-)
Of course, there have been the usual attacks from a certain railfan, now posing as a fake driver from Eveleigh driver and will now go on to ridicule me on private forums and Facebook groups.
However, what we achieved today was well beyond what I had thought possible. A success that has already lead to talk of David doing another next year.
That, coupled with a preservation fundraiser (OMG, mention of that should get me attacked again) to Boree Creek, should keep me well busy in 2019.
As always, much photographic coverage was done on the day. This is the first of a multi-part series of photos and video covering the event.
The rest shall appear in February as I shall be away covering two major anniversary events during the coming weeks.
Please let me take this opportunity to convey my thanks to all who attended the event, both to volunteer their time helping, and to those who just came to enjoy the event and help the kids in need.
Sometimes you just need to do a little more than pose in a pretend photo in order to help others.
Thank you.
Thanks to the Parker Brothers for bringing along two of their fantastic heritage buses. The biggest surprise for me is this Atlantean, a bus I grew up on and will always hold a massive part in my heart.
David's HR club put on a great show of classic Holden products.
Thank you to Mr Evan Ree's for bringing along his classic Volvo.
Thanks to Russell Smith of AlcoWorld for bringing along his record-breaking Mitsubishi to show off to an admiring crowd.
It is said to be entering the 'Guiness Book Of Records' for completing more miles than historic heritage photos taken by a leader in the field.
Thank you Russell for your endless support of our cancer fundraiser.
Thanks to my dear friends Jason Anthony and The Colonel for coming today and devouring monumental amounts of sausage sangers (made dangerously with onions on top).
Hope you chaps had a great day.
Kevin Medley and John Auer, friends of many decades, you guys are awesome.
Thank you for coming along to support us.
Mr Zane Maber (aka The Fat Controller).
Not many words are adequate to describe my mate Zane.
A young bloke who endlessly, and I mean ENDLESSLY, devotes so much time to forwarding both preservation and the hobby in general, that he hardly has enough time to do all the things he wants too.
Zane does not have to set up photos of himself pretending to work, he is always too busy. If not under a train getting it back into service, it is on the train attending to passenger needs.
If all that is not enough, he comes out on a very hot day, dressed up as a kid's favourite, the Fat Controller, in order to help us out.
Zane, I have also been made of your huge donation to the fundraiser. You are a beauitiful person and it is truly an honour to be counted among your friends.
3095 was the supporting act to the beautiful Leyland Atlantean.
Stay tuned in February 2019 when we take a further look at this incredible day.
We will also keep you updated on other exciting fundraising events that are forthcoming.
The railfan hobby, it can be more than just a cesspool of hate from within.
Have yourself a Merry Christmas and an awesome 2019.
