Rail Trail Ranger Peter Kleis, from Linville, on board his rail trike which he brought along especially for the centenary celebrationsMember for Nanango Deb Frecklington, former Heritage House manager John Barber and former Yarraman stationmaster Jeffrey Muckert planted a tree in the garden to mark the centenary
May 23, 2013
Yarraman marked the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first train to the town (May 1, 1913), with a range of celebrations on Saturday.
At Heritage House, a large crowd gathered to listen to live music – played on the “platform” of the old railway station building – inspect memorabilia and swap yarns. Many of the visitors were from outside the region but had special connections with the Yarraman railway in past years.
The oldest former railway man in attendance was Tony McQuillen, 87, who travelled from Banyo for the occasion. Tony used to work as a lad porter on the rail motors running from Toogoolawah to Brisbane.
He was invited to unveil a special plaque affixed to the old railway station building to mark the centenary.
Also to mark the occasion, Jeffrey Muckert, a former station master at Yarraman for many years, planted a crows ash seedling in the Heritage House garden.
Special centenary activities were also held along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (the old railway line): on Saturday the South Burnett PCYC organised a mountain bike and on Sunday, the South Burnett Trail Horse Riders held a 22km trail ride.
On Saturday night, visitors and local residents gathered at the Yarraman Community Hall for a German-style supper dance.
Reg McCallum, Lola Harper, Robyn Gray, Margaret Webb and Mary Green from Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails Inc
Former guard Leon Wyvill, from Yarraman, with Tony McQuillen, 87, from Banyo; Tony worked as a porter on the rail motor from Toogoolawah
Betty Miller and Ron Lucas, from Yarraman, were kept busy serving up the food to a long queue of hungry customers
Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails president Mary Green presented Toowoomba Regional Council with a painting of the Yarraman Railway Station by BVHT member Judith Goodman; Judith’s father was an engineer on the line to Yarraman
Gordon and Ivy Rose, from Bundaberg, with their daughter Robyn Miller; Gordon was a train driver and the family lived in Yarraman
Jean and Jeffrey Muckert, from Burpengary, with the first manager of the Yarraman Heritage Centre John Barber, centre
Leo Geraghty, from Murgon, was back on his old stomping ground; Leo’s father Tom was relieving station master at Yarraman for 12 months and during this time Leo attended the local school
Leon Wyvill with Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington; Leon was a lad porter on the railways before he became a guard
Tass and Mandy Papoutsis, from Burpengary … Mandy’s father, Jeffrey Muckert, was station master at Yarraman for many years
Rachel and Samantha Baker, from Baker Family Caterers, helped prepare supper for the Oktoberfest Dance in the Yarraman Community Hall
June Harland and Lyn Fuller, both from Yarraman, enjoying the band
Marjory Moschioni from Yarraman and Judy Cranston from Blackbutt
Lucy Kussler, Jacob Meier and Albert Aver had a fun time at the dance
Leo Karnauchow, from “Euroband”
Niara Lazzaroni, 11, and mum Anita
Dawn Plumridge and Shirley and Dale Castle, all from Yarraman, enjoyed the centenary celebrations
Tony Meier from Germany had been visiting family and was getting on a plane to return home next day, but spent time at the Oktoberfest dance with friends Monika Poschner and Veronica Moor
Gordon Rose, from Bundaberg, and Dale Castle, from Yarraman, met at the centenary celebrations but they have something in common … both have 5o-year jewels from their Masonic Lodges
