WHY NORTH SHORE RAIL VOLUNTEERS WALKED AWAY

WITH a recent letter in the Geelong

Advertiser about North Shore station where the Overland from Adelaide pulls in, may I explain about the lack of volunteers working there.

There were five volunteers aged from their 60 to 80s. We had been trying to get others to help us. It was only for one hour maximum on Monday and Friday evenings to help all the passengers getting off in Geelong.

As well as locals returning home there were interstate and overseas passengers visiting Geelong for a holiday and to spend money in our city.

Over a period of 18 months I was writing letters to local and state government personnel to try and get help.

I wrote to Roger Grant (Geelong and Great Ocean Road Tourism) twice — no answer. John Eren, Minister for Tourism, three letters — no answer. Minister for Transport two letters — no reply. Geelong council one letter with a reply from the then mayor Lyons telling me it was V/Line property. That I knew, but the area looked like a Third World country (not Geelong) and all we needed was a bit of help.

If this had been the other side of the river, it would have been fixed immediately. Geelong is so lucky that the platform is there otherwise they would have to go to Melbourne.

We always phoned for taxis for those who needed one, as the taxi company would not allow one cab to be there when the train arrived.

We thought long and hard about stopping meeting the train, but age and health ruled the day. As well as cleaning the area to the best of our ability, we also mended the seats and the fence going up the path to the platform and removed the graffiti.

In trying to get more help some smart alecs would tell me it is a train from Great Southern Rail, so let them do it. I know Norlane is the poor suburb of Geelong. It is an industrial area, but it should be welcoming to everyone getting off the train.

And, as Lorraine McKay said (GA 26/7), the staff on the train are fantastic and help passengers so much, so I wish we could still be there.

So sorry, everyone, but if no one is willing to help us after 18 months of trying to get help, we said goodbye.