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Mary Valley Rattler Volunteers Shine with Gold at Queensland Tourism Awards
Monday, November 18, 2024
Mary Valley Rattler volunteers win Gold at Queensland Tourism Awards for his or her excellent contributions.
In an space traditionally acknowledged for its vital gold reserves, the Mary Valley Rattler triumphantly clinched the Gold on the Queensland Tourism Awards, honoring its distinctive volunteers. Sherry Lowe, the Common Supervisor, accepted the award for Excellent Contribution by a Volunteer Group throughout a resplendent occasion held at Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane. Lowe praised the dedication and enthusiasm of the volunteers, noting their essential function in embedding the Rattler into the material of Gympie’s group.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Mary Valley Rattler community,” she stated. “The Rattler has received many awards for its tourism providers prior to now, however that is undoubtedly probably the most vital.
“The Rattler wouldn’t have been in a position to transition from a authorities rail service to a tourism operation with out the continued ardour, data, and dedication of our volunteers, from meticulously restoring trains and carriages to the famend pleasant service that they ship each day to passengers.
““I’m so pleased with, and grateful to all our volunteers, a lot of whom have been contributing for years.
“They are surely the Rattler’s ‘secret ingredient’ and allow us to play a important function as a hub for the area people.
“Operating a not-for-profit heritage vacationer attraction just like the Rattler could be very difficult, particularly given the crises of Covid and floods in recent times, however it’s the power of our volunteering group that retains us on observe.
“Retaining our vibrant vacationer attraction working requires individuals from all walks of life and all ages with a variety of various abilities and data and we’re all the time looking out for individuals excited by volunteering.
“Whether they want to work behind the scenes supporting the operation of our unique steam locomotives, meet and greet guests on the platform or jump on board and share our rich history as part of their railway experience, we love welcoming new members of the ‘Rattler Family’.”
Tracing its origins to Gympie’s affluent gold mining period, which notably helped save the nascent Queensland colony from monetary smash, the Mary Valley Rattler represents a cherished piece of historical past. As gold mining dwindled within the early twentieth century, agriculture lured settlers, prompting the development of a railway in 1911 to facilitate the transport of produce domestically and internationally. Although business operations ceased in 1995, a faithful group of volunteers restored the steam and diesel locomotives and revitalized classic carriages. This effort ensured the Rattler continued to supply passengers the prospect to expertise a picturesque journey by the gorgeous landscapes of Mary Valley.
