Busy Gembrook

Yesterday was 'Thomas the Tank Engine' day in Gembrook. When I say it was 'Thomas the Tank Engine' day, let me elaborate and say it was the Thomas day organised by the Rotary Club of Emerald in conjunction with Puffing Billy Railway. This was changed from a date in October because that date was washed out. There were also four other Thomas days in total organised by Puffing Billy, two in October, and two earlier this month. I'm well and truly Thomased out, not that I attend the event but it is impossible not to be aware of the crowds and congestion and traffic if I venture into the town.

I suppose the large attendance at these events means they are a success, but I query who is the beneficiary. Obviously Puffing Billy and probably the hotel, but it's a great pity, for those of us who appreciate Gembrook's quiet natural beauty for what it is without all the noise and fuss and crowds, that this extravaganza of events has been imposed on our town. Now that we have Thomas out of the way, we are now going to have 4 Santa events in December, two days each on consecutive weekends. We'll have a little break during January and February then there are six more events in March. I'm not sure but I think Thomas is returning for these. Maybe it is Thomas meeting Santa in December as well.

It was also market day being the last Sunday of the month. The market has moved to the Community Centre, I think there was some conflict between the market committee and Puffing Billy. The market has traditionally been held at the the station but this was no longer acceptable for some reason, the specifics of which I know not. The crowd and traffic were horrendous in the town when I was looking for friends who were visiting and wanted to see the market. They said they found the market disappointing. They have recently moved back after 8 years in West Australia and in their travels have seen many local markets.

Today I was working in a garden close to the Puffing Billy line, perhaps 60 or 70 metres away, when the train left Gembrook on it's way back to Cockatoo. The hooting of the whistle split the calm and after the train passed, the hooting continuing further down, the acrid smell of smoke and or cinders enveloped me. I can only hope there were not too many particles deposited in my lungs as I had to continue breathing. I'm glad I gave up smoking 26 years ago. The medication I take for my RA has a side effect of increased risk of lung cancer, so the prescribing specialist suggested I give up smoking (if I smoked).

I was mindful of this today as I breathed in the Puffing Billy smoke/cinders.