Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Casino Mini Rail open for ANZAC Day

President of the Coast Pacific Railway Society, Jim Fitzgerald, signals all aboard to four-year-old Kyle Imlah of Casino before heading off on a ride through the Jabiru Geneebeinga wetlands on Casino's famous mini rail. The mini rail and the railway museum at Old Casino Station will be opened on ANZAC Day (Monday, April 25).

Jim Fitzgerald never tires of showing visitors at the Old Casino Railway Museum how the railway workers cooked their breakfast on a shovel over the fire in the old steam engines.

"The kids are just amazed," Jim said. "And when they see the big old wooden tucker boxes the rail workers used, they are ready to swap their plastic lunch box for a wooden one."

Jim is president of the Pacific Coast Railway Society, which operates the famous Casino Mini Rail and the Old Casino Railway Museum, both of which will be open on ANZAC Day (Monday, April 25).

"Casino was a railway town," Jim said. "The museum contains a history of Casino railway over the past 100 years."

Jim said the museum has a big collection of railway memorabilia including photos, antique model trains, signal boxes, and old machinery.

People can also ride the Casino Mini Rail, which sets off on its 25-minute journey near the Casino Golf Club and winds through the Jabiru Geneebeinga wetlands and around the Casino golf course. Patrons can break their journey at the museum and catch a return train.

The cost for the train ride is only $3.50 and entry to the museum is free. The railway will run between 10am and 4pm on ANZAC Day, and is also open on Sundays. For more information contact Sid Miles on 6662 1924.

Sesquicentenary book launch

Casino's Sesquicentenary committee have come up with their first project to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the town.

The committee will develop a book containing the chronological history of Casino and is inviting families, businesses and organisations to consider having their histories recorded in the publication. The book is a joint initiative of the committee and Bookmen Publishing, and is expected to be released in October.

"This is a unique opportunity for people to record their involvement in shaping our town," said Richmond Valley mayor Charlie Cox.

Cr Cox will launch the book concept at a public meeting next Tuesday, April 19, at the Casino RSM Club from 7.30pm.