Tuesday, 29 August 2023

Puffing Billy

Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (13:29): On Thursday I was lucky enough to be shown around the Puffing Billy Emerald Lake Park by Nicoleta and Peter, the CEO and the manager. I remember going on Puffing Billy as a child; it was amazing then, and it is even more amazing now. After recent improvements, there is now a beautiful museum, a cafe, art on display, a shop and function spaces. And if the power goes out, which it often does in that area, you can go and have a shower, charge your phone and have a hot chocolate or a coffee.

I want to extend my congratulations to Peter, Nicoleta and the visionary team at Puffing Billy Railway: not only are you putting Emerald on the international map, but you are offering incredible opportunities for locals by providing them with employment and volunteering opportunities. I was delighted to meet some of these volunteers, including Don, who has volunteered for over 60 years. There are 350 active volunteers that contribute over 6000 hours per month to railway operations and programs. Puffing Billy Railway has for 60 years operated a tourism and heritage railway and in that time has carried 13 million guests. In the last year alone these volunteers have looked after 310,000 passengers – around 35 to 40 per cent of those being international guests. So to the amazing staff and the amazing volunteers I want to say: thank you; you are making our communities a wonderful place.