For many past and present North Ballarat Railway Workshop employees – it’s been far too long.
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On March 6, workers from one of Ballarat’s greatest employers to gather for a long-overdue reunion in celebration of the workshop’s 99th year.
The reunion will take place at the Victorian Railways Institute Hall in Lydiard Street North and not at the former workshop now occupied by train manufacturer Alstom, but past hands are hopeful they can return to the original site for next year’s centenary.
Rail worker Paul Dwyer, who is one of many now working for UGL Limited, said the idea for a reunion was spawned by testing circumstances.
“The reason this came about is because there’s been a couple of passings (deaths) of former workers,” Mr Dwyer said.
“We’ve gone to funerals and it’s almost been a mini reunion, so someone suggested that we have a (real) reunion.
“We’ve chosen 99 (years) because next year for the 100th anniversary we hope Alstom will let us in the site to organise the big one.”
The workshops were opened in April of 1917 by Victorian Railways, with Alstom purchasing the site in 1999.
This year’s reunion will be an informal affair where past and present railway workers from both Alstom and UGL Limited are encouraged to share stories from a golden era in manufacturing.
At one point in the 1970s the workshop employed around 600 workers.
Subsequently, organisers have no idea how many will show up to the informal get-together.
“There’s been literally thousands work in there over the years. You could have people between 22 and 92 that could be coming to it,” Mr Dwyer said.
“Fathers and sons – if your father worked here (in the past), you had a good chance of getting a job here.
A database is being set up in readiness for next year’s celebration.
Former and current employees and their families are encouraged to log their start and finish dates and roles performed at the location to the info@railway100.com email.
Alstom has also donated a $500 voucher for accommodation and dinner in Melbourne, with all who register to go into the draw for the prize, which will be drawn on the day.
This year’s reunion will run from 1pm to 4pm.
