Members’ Update – April 2021

Hello fellow AGMRC members,

The 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place at the Carindale PCYC on Saturday, 27th February 2021 and the first meeting of the new Committee was held on 25 March 2021. The 2021 year is underway with a lot more optimism than last year. There are many Club Activities either planned or in the planning stages and hopefully this year you will witness more social interaction with members and more Club events. A lot has happened since the last Member’s Update. I have outlined the main items of interest below.

2021 AGM and Members Meeting

At the AGM on 27th February 2021 the following people were elected unopposed at the AGM:

* President: John Bateman
* Vice President: Dennis Remmer
* Treasurer: Daphne Huang
* Secretary: Barry Chiswell
* Committee Member: Col Rough

I would like to congratulate Col on his election and welcome him to the Committee. I look forward to working with Col over the next year.

Alf Petralia did not stand for office this year and I would like to acknowledge and thank Alf for his many years as a hard-working Committee Member. Thanks Alf, your efforts have been very much appreciated by all members.

I realise that the 2022 AGM is a fair way off now, but I do encourage members to consider whether they would be willing to nominate for Committee positions next year. At this point in time, I understand that the people in positions of Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President and President will not be standing again in 2022. The Club and its members need and deserve some new people that are willing to take on these roles at a time when the Club is moving into new premises and building new layouts. It will be an exciting time.

Update on Yeronga Priority Development Area – Club’s New Premises

Dennis has reported that contracts between EDQ and the development consortium have been signed and work has commenced on the project-proper for the Yeronga Priority Development Area. This includes the planned Yeronga Community Plus building, of which All Gauge MRC will be a co-tenant. Because of delays due to Covid, current plans indicate late 2022 as the completion target, however All Gauge should commence layout planning sooner rather than later.

Brisbane Train Show

The annual AMRA (Queensland) Brisbane Model Train Show is back for 2021 after missing last year due to COVID 19 restrictions. The Club will be exhibiting its Midlands Layout at this event. The details of the Brisbane Model Train Show are as follows:

* Dates/Times:
Saturday 1st May – 9am-5pm
Sunday 2nd May – 9am-4pm
* Venue: Exhibition Building, 601 Gregory Terrace at the corner of Costin Street
* Cost:
Adults $17.00
Concession and Full-time Students (16 and over) $12.00
Children Under 16 (With paying Adult) Free
* Parking: On-site parking is available for $15 per day.

To ensure that all is well with Midlands, it is proposed that the trailer (with Midlands) be towed from David Austin’s house at Holland Park West to Barry and Daphne’s house at Coopers Plains, where Midlands will be assembled and tested. As Barry has previously advised, this will take place on Wednesday 14 April. The preparation of the trailer for transit will commence at David’s house at 9.00am. Full details of this logistical effort have already been supplied in an email to members by Barry. If you require further details, please contact Barry or myself. Your help with this move and testing will be appreciated.

Members Meeting

The next Members Meeting will be held at the Carindale PCYC at 1.00pm on Saturday 15th May 2021. Barry will, as usual, be sending details of that meeting to you in due course.

That’s about it for now. I hope to catch you at the Brisbane Train Show. Take care of yourselves, be safe and see you soon. All the best.

John Bateman
President, All Gauge Model Railway Club Inc.

Members’ Update – 25 January 2021

Hello fellow AGMRC members,

Well, here we are, almost at the end of the first month of 2021.  Happy new year to all of you.  Last year seemed like a bit of a wild ride but let’s hope 2021 will be a big improvement.  The Committee is hoping that 2021 will enable us to get back to our normal schedule with table sales, train shows and Club events planned throughout the year.  Dates for these events are being finalised.  I will let you know as soon as I have confirmation of these dates.

The current Committee had its last meeting last week on Wednesday, 20 January and we discussed a number of matters concerning the Club and its activities for the coming year.  I have provide you with details of the matters discussed as well as some news updates below for your information:

Update on Yeronga Priority Development Area – Club’s New Premises

With the Christmas holidays only now coming to an end this week, there has not been much happening with respect to the development of the new Yeronga Community Centre.  The Vice President, Dennis Remmer, expects planning meetings to commence in the next couple of weeks and we will be able to give you an update at the AGM and Members Meetings on 27 February 2021.

2021 AGM and Members Meeting

As noted above the annual AGM and Members Meeting will take place on Saturday, 27 February 2021 commencing at 1.00pm.  As usual it will be held at the Carindale PCYC and these meetings will continue to be held there at least for 2021. 

You will be receiving a Notice of 2021 AGM and Agenda and associated documents from the Secretary, Barry Chiswell over the next few days. 

You will be aware that one of the main formalities of the AGM is the election of the Management Committee members.  Any two members of the Club may nominate any other member to serve as an officer of the Management Committee.  I would encourage all members to consider taking on a role in the Committee to assist in and contribute to the advancement of the Club in what looks like being a significant year in the Club’s history with the move to new Club premises in late 2021 or early 2022.  Our current Secretary, Barry Chiswell and Treasurer, Daphne Huang have advised that they will not be standing for office in 2021.  The positions of Secretary and Treasurer are critical for the running of the Club and if any members are thinking of taking on these roles, it is important to have themselves nominated.  The Notice of 2021 AGM will provide details of the nomination process and attach a Nomination Form.

On a personal note, I would like to thank Barry and Daphne for all their hard work and dedication to the Club over the past four years or so.  It has been a pleasure working with them over the years.

New Venue for Table Sales and Train Shows

As advised at the last Members Meeting in November, the Carindale PCYC will be undergoing some development during 2021.  The consequence of this is that the Club’s use of the main hall at that facility to host its Table Sales and other significant events cannot be guaranteed in 2021 or into the future.  I have discussed this with Sgt David Beard, Branch Manager, PCYC Carindale and we have both agreed that for the sake of continuity and certainty, that it would be in the Club’s interest to seek an alternative venue for these events. 

I would like to thank David for his strong support for the Club since our move there in early 2017.  Without his help and that of his team, the Club would not be in the good shape it is now.  His help and assistance over the years has been appreciated by the Committee and members more than we could ever adequately express. 

While the Club will continue to use the facilities at the PCYC for all our meetings, at least for 2021, all table sales and train shows will be move to the QRA Cafe, Bar and Function Centre at Belmont.  I would like to thank Ron Parker and Alf Petralia for their efforts in securing this site for these events. 

Annual Club Awards

We had the return of the annual Club awards at the Christmas Party held in early December last year.  This appeared to have been welcomed enthusiastically by members and guests on the evening.  The recipients of the awards on the night were:

Member of the Year 2019	Ron Parker	for all the work he has put into the organisation of the Table Sales and the success of those events for the Club.
Member of the Year 2020	David Austin	for his consistent and ongoing contributions to Club activities, most of which are conducted in the background and have not been recognised, at least until now.
Modeller of the Year 2019	Graham Sheehan	for his dedication to the ongoing work on Midlands Layout which is enjoyed by all members.
Modeller of the Year 2020	Graeme Ross	for his constant support of N gauge modelling and in recognition of his significant modelling skills.

Planning for New Club Layouts

As you know, we are very hopeful that by the end of 2021, we will have Club rooms at the new Yeronga Community Centre.  While in the short term we can move the current Club layouts into this facility, the longer term plan is to construct a new layout that will cater for members into the future.  It is an opportunity for members to think about what they would like to see in a new layout and to contribute, in the first instance, to the planning of the layout and later to contributing to its construction.  These matters will be discussed with members at the first Members Meeting on 27 February 2021.

This is an opportunity for the Club to develop a vision for a layout that takes advantage of new technologies and construction techniques that will not only service the members of today but also the members of the future.  To my mind, the age old rivalry between DC and DCC will need to be put aside for this layout.  There is no reason why we cannot have a layout that caters for both methods of operation.  The focus needs to be on the big picture and the future.

Well, that’s about it for now.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the AGM and Members’ Meeting next month.  Please consider nominating for any of the positions on the Committee.  Take care of yourselves, be safe and see you soon. 

John Bateman
President
All Gauge Model Railway Club Inc.

Promising signs…

Watch this space for more news throughout 2020…

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Important Note

Due to ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, and the associated State & Federal Government laws, health directives and recommendations, all events scheduled on the All Gauge calendar for 2021 are subject to late change or cancellation; and in particular our public events such as table sales, train shows, and open days.

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The History of the All Gauge Model Railway Club

“Some of the founding and future members of AGMRC were model railway enthusiasts, members of other hobby groups and model railway clubs, long before the nucleus of All Gauge was formed in 1973 ….”

The author of our history is Peter Lamb, a long-term AGMRC member who first joined in 1978. Much of this history is from his first-hand memories and experiences from before, during and returning to the club.

Click on About Us at the top of this page then click on History of the All Gauge Model Railway Club to enjoy the first episode.