Two tributes were paid to Graeme Breydon in the Victorian Parliament recently:
(On the 22/8/2006)
Mr PANDAZOPOULOS (Minister for Tourism) -- The tourism industry in Victoria received some very sad news overnight. Last night, at the age of 54, Mr Graeme Breydon passed away. Graeme Breydon was chair of the Emerald Tourist Railway Board, which has responsibility for the operation of one of Melbourne and Victoria's most popular tourist attractions, the Puffing Billy railway.
Mr Breydon became involved with Puffing Billy as a 14-year-old back in 1964, when he joined the Puffing Billy Preservation Society. In 1989 he became a member of the board, and since November 1999 he has been chair of the Emerald Tourist Railway Board. For the past eight years Mr Breydon was also a member of the Great Train Race committee, which organises the annual Great Train Race in which runners race Puffing Billy in a fun run.
During his time as a member of the board Mr Breydon was a driving force behind many developments to Puffing Billy and the surrounding area, and I would just like to mention a few of those. The first is certainly his leadership in the redevelopment of the Belgrave railway station to improve its appearance and its services to the public as a key point for visitors to Puffing Billy. Then there is the promotion of the extension of the line to Gembrook and the delivery of that line. Now it is a great trip all the way out from Belgrave to Gembrook. The locomotive workshop at Belgrave has been upgraded, as well as the historic G42 locomotive, which was recently restored.
At a national level Mr Breydon was involved in the development of the national rail safety regulations as they pertain to tourist railways such as Puffing Billy. For his involvement in that process Mr Breydon recently received an individual award for excellence from the Australasian Railway Association. All of this great work was done by Mr Breydon on a voluntary and honorary basis. He was dedicated to Puffing Billy, and all the thoughts of the people from Puffing Billy are with his family.
(On the 23/8/2006)
Mr MERLINO (Monbulk) -- I rise to join with the Minister for Tourism in expressing my sincere condolences at the sudden passing of Graeme Breydon, chair of the Emerald Tourist Railway or, as most people know it, Puffing Billy -- a much-loved icon of Melbourne. If there is one word to describe all the staff and volunteers at Puffing Billy, it is passion. I think there is something about steam trains that brings out terrific enthusiasm and joy in people. The chair of the board was no different.
Graeme joined the Puffing Billy Preservation Society as a 10-year-old in 1964. He joined the board in 1989 and became chair a decade later. As chair, Graeme was determined to improve the Puffing Billy experience. Services were improved, which included, for example, extending the line to Gembrook and adding dining services.
He addressed long-term issues in redeveloping the workshop areas, and as he was an enthusiast at heart he took great pride in the restoration of the G42 locomotive.
As a local representative I travelled on Puffing Billy a number of times. Every time I did so Graeme was there, either outlining the benefits of a particular new service or new infrastructure on show, or praising the work of the volunteers at an awards function. He clearly loved the railway and its people. He was a stellar volunteer giving all of his time on an honorary basis. I know he will be sorely missed by everyone at Puffing Billy. I extend my sympathies to Andrew Stephens, the new chief executive officer and fellow train enthusiast, to the marketing manager, David Eaton, and to all the staff and volunteers. Finally, to Graeme's former wife, Elsa, and daughter, Fiona: I am very sorry for your sad loss.