It will be 20 years since Don first started volunteering for the Puffing Billy Railway and on November 9 Don will also give his 400th speaking presentation for the group.
“I first became involved in the railway when I started thinking about retirement more than 20 years ago,” Don said.
“Although I was ready to retire, I knew I was too young and energetic to sit around doing nothing. I found out the railway was looking for volunteers and it was something I was interested in – it’s all taken off from there.”
Don, who is a resident at Waterford Valley Lakes, does up to 70 presentations about the historic railway each year.
“We present to a range of groups across Victoria, including Probus, retirement villages, schools and clubs. I also coordinate the activities of the other volunteers who are part of the Visiting Speakers Panel,” Don said.
“Plus, every Saturday I run the booking office at Belgrave and I also used to work as a Station Master.”
The Puffing Billy Railway has become an Australian heritage preserved steam tourist railway and in December the railway will celebrate a milestone of its own – its 110th birthday.
“The story of the railway’s beginnings, its struggle to survive closure, and the efforts of volunteers to keep it running is very interesting,” Don said.
When he’s not busy volunteering for the railway, Don is busy organising events at Waterford Valley Lakes, as president of the village’s social committee.
“My wife Bev and I moved to Waterford Valley Lakes more than eight years ago and we love it - it’s a fantastic place to live,” Don said.
It will be 20 years since Don first started volunteering for the Puffing Billy Railway and on November 9 Don will also give his 400th speaking presentation for the group.
“I first became involved in the railway when I started thinking about retirement more than 20 years ago,” Don said.
“Although I was ready to retire, I knew I was too young and energetic to sit around doing nothing. I found out the railway was looking for volunteers and it was something I was interested in – it’s all taken off from there.”
Don, who is a resident at Waterford Valley Lakes, does up to 70 presentations about the historic railway each year.
“We present to a range of groups across Victoria, including Probus, retirement villages, schools and clubs. I also coordinate the activities of the other volunteers who are part of the Visiting Speakers Panel,” Don said.
“Plus, every Saturday I run the booking office at Belgrave and I also used to work as a Station Master.”
The Puffing Billy Railway has become an Australian heritage preserved steam tourist railway and in December the railway will celebrate a milestone of its own – its 110th birthday.
“The story of the railway’s beginnings, its struggle to survive closure, and the efforts of volunteers to keep it running is very interesting,” Don said.
When he’s not busy volunteering for the railway, Don is busy organising events at Waterford Valley Lakes, as president of the village’s social committee.
“My wife Bev and I moved to Waterford Valley Lakes more than eight years ago and we love it - it’s a fantastic place to live,” Don said.