GAWLER RAILWAY STATION RESTORATION

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (15:35): Today I would like to pay tribute to one of the service clubs in my electorate, namely, the Lions Club of Gawler. This hardworking service club (and its members) this year capped off its 40th year in Gawler. I am a member of the club, but I must confess that all the comments I am about to make are about not me but other members. I am a new member to the club and, at this stage, my contribution has unfortunately been minimal. As I said, the Lions Club of Gawler last week celebrated its 40th year of operations in Gawler and its service to the Gawler community. The Lions Club celebrates 60 years in Australia and 90 years worldwide.

Mr Hanna: A roaring success!

Mr PICCOLO: That was the headline I used in my stories for the newspapers. Obviously great minds think alike. I actually said that the Lions Club of Gawler roared ahead during 2007. On Sunday 11 November the Minister for Volunteers (Hon. Jennifer Rankine MP) officially opened the first stage of the Gawler railway station restoration project, which was a culmination of a seven-year partnership between TransAdelaide and the Lions Club of Gawler.

The project has involved the renovation of the stationmaster's quarters and the relocation and the housing of the Dolly Grey locomotive. The stationmaster's quarters now house the Gawler Community Gallery. In her speech, the minister quite rightly praised and recognised the tireless efforts of the Gawler community to bring this project to fruition under the leadership of the Lions Club of Gawler. The minister acknowledged the various participants and community groups that worked together to ensure the project was a success.

I would like to acknowledge some of the partners in this project. In addition to the Lions Club of Gawler, there was Heritage SA, the Gawler council and Employment Directions, which supervised the work-for-the-dole scheme. I would also like to mention Scott's Transport, Nick's Cranes, Sanders Bros, Harwood & Van Pelt and Ahrens Engineering. These groups contributed $50,000 worth of sponsorship to make this project happen. Much of the funding for the project has come from the weekly market run by the Lions Club in the car park by the railway station.

The launch of this stage of the restoration of this railway station also marked the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the steam train to Gawler. In officially launching the project, the minister stated that these days no-one takes for granted the important work that volunteers do in our communities. The project has been well led by Lion Pat Mells and his team. Pat is the head of the project team. Just to put it in perspective, the current station was built in 1872 on pastoral land, and it has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including the classic Shiralee and the popular McLeod's Daughters.

Ms Bedford interjecting:

Mr PICCOLO: That's correct. I mentioned that this project was a partnership. I would also like to mention the role played by the Rotary Club of Gawler, and particularly Mr Gary Gailey, the coordinator of the TransAdelaide Adopt a Station Program. Mr Gailey went around to community groups asking them to adopt railway stations as a way of not only preserving them but also maintaining these buildings as important community assets.

The success of this project—first, in terms of its restoration; and, secondly, making a space available for community groups to use—is a great example of how the three tiers of government can work together along with service groups and other community members. I would also like to mention that the railway station is a fine specimen of Victorian railway architecture, I am told. The buildings were completed in 1879 and replaced the original limestone structure built in 1857. The building cost £4,200 to build—a project which today would have cost multimillions of dollars.

The original station was a rather imposing structure. Like most country railway stations it comprised a waiting room, offices, sheds and a two-storey stationmaster's residence. As I said, I pay tribute to the Lions Club which is an important service club in our district and which has contributed not only to this project but numerous other projects which help bring our community to life.