Election thank you

There is considerable interest in the possible return of passenger train services here in the Wimmera and many of us are keen for that to happen rather sooner than later.

I am not sure that anyone is contemplating a direct passenger rail service all the way to Melbourne as the cost of that exercise would be prohibitive, and would scare off any entrepreneur, State Government or otherwise.

But while interest is current about passenger rail, I do not think anyone has yet considered two most important aspects of the discussion.

The first of these is U3A. And for those of our readers who are not sure what U3A is, I will say that the movement in Horsham started 35 years ago, now having more than 200 active members.

This makes U3A probably the largest community organisation in the Wimmera – but should that not be the case, U3A must be right up there with the largest.

And the purpose of this organisation, which is active all round the world, and very much so in Victoria and Australia? It is to provide activities for any folk in the community who are not fulltime employed.

Active participation in physical and passive courses stimulate us and keep us healthier in mind and body.

The second important aspect of this article is where U3A operates in Horsham.

Yes, it is the Horsham Railway Station at 23 Railway Avenue.

The building itself was erected in 1879 and I guess is the oldest standing structure in Horsham,

where we have a preference to demolish our history rather than spend any money preserving it for future generations to be impressed with the quality, design and long range planning of the 19th Century.

The problems of old buildings are many, and in today’s Horsham, this old building is probably unsuited to 21st century rail travel, being difficult to heat and keep clean, and with uneven, and perhaps unsafe, platform.

Rather, I suggest a steel framed fully insulated steel clad building consisting of ticket sale kiosk, rest rooms and waiting room on the rejuvenated western platform is all that is necessary.

That being the case, surely it would be in Vicktrack’s interest – being the actual owner of the station – to give the old building to Horsham Rural City Council, thus divesting themselves of future consideration. Rick Walker, president, Horsham and District U3A