Two restored carriages will soon be lifted into place to form an iconic railway display at the Murgon Men’s Shed.
This comes as Wide Bay member Llew O’Brien announced a $15,000 grant for the project.
“The Murgon’s Men Shed members have done an incredible job to restore a 100-year-old first and second-class carriage and a steel goods wagon that were rescued from a yard near Rockhampton after being decommissioned in the 1980s,” Mr O’Brien said.
“This $15,000 grant through the Stronger Communities Programme will enable the Shed to hire a crane to lift them into place to form part of the planned Rail Museum at the start of the South Burnett Rail Trail, and to begin landscaping around the area.”
Once in place, the Rail Display Complex will be built around the carriages and will eventually house a steam engine, goods wagon and other restored railway items.
“The planned Rail Display Complex is a fantastic initiative that will provide a fascinating glimpse into the history of our Queensland railways and boost tourism through the South Burnett, and the Murgon Men’s Shed committee and members are doing a remarkable job to bring it to fruition, so I am pleased to support their work with this federal funding towards the $60,000 project,” Mr O’Brien said.
The Stronger Communities Programme Round 6 provided up to $150,000 for each of the 151 federal electorates in Australia, with grants of between $2,500 and $20,000 available for eligible organisations including incorporated not-for-profit community service and sporting groups and councils.
Mr O’Brien encouraged organisations to put their projects forward for future rounds of the Stronger Communities Program. Contact his office on 4121 2936 or visit www.rda.gov.au for more details.
