Re: What's up with the RTM ? (was Government support (was 4001))

["Darren Yates" <dyates@pnc.com.au>]

Mmmm. Interesting.
Maybe it's time a code of conduct was drawn up for the directors of the RTM.
And I mean one  with more teeth than the Liberal Party's attempt.
It's more than time that some transparency happened within the RTM
management.
----------------------
Darren


catchpoints@my-dejanews.com wrote in message
<7avh7j$cki$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
>In previous posts, I have taken issue with Messrs. Gioia and Yates on the
>subject of RTM management.
>
>However, recent events should be aired ... like the fact that 3 Directors
have
>resigned since the Elections last year, AND the General Manager.
>
>What is going on ? It is well known that the RTM Board has never let its GM
>manage the company ... small wonder, then, that the opportunity to do so
>elsewhere would entice him away.
>
>One of those who resigned recently was the editor of the Members'
newsletter,
>which, like it or not, from time to time actually told things the way they
>were. Can we expect such open and honest communication to continue, or will
>the Board be more selective in what the Members are told ?
>
>Since most of you know who I am now, I will admit to being a former
Director.
>
>Regards,
>Lindsay Lucas
>(soon to be ex-member ????)
>
>
>In article <vN8t2.1$j33.337246@news0.optus.net.au>,
>  "Rob" <blobigus@optus.net.au> wrote:
>> Maybe it's time that the RTM tried a different approach to running the
>> loopline. Perhaps something along the lines of the RTM maintains the
>> permanent way and restores the line back to Colo Vale. They then lease
the
>> rolling stock / locomatives at a nominal sum to individuals / groups who
>> then raise the funds to get the equipment restored. As part of the
agreement
>> the restored equipment must run on the loopline for X number of days, be
>> stored at Thirlmere, etc etc. A bit like the way some of the English
>> preservation lines operate who often swap locomotives as well. One thing
>> that would come of this would be that popular loco's would be first in
line
>> for restoration as opposed to restoring 27 class. Also some carriages
(like
>> the EAM) may get restored.
>> Cheers,
>> Rob
>>
>> Darren Yates wrote in message <36b211f5.0@occy.pnc.com.au>...
>> >Paul,
>> >On some things I agree with you but the problem is that most of these
>> >collections are sitting around doing nothing.
>> >
>> >I think railfans have reason to be a bit narrow-minded, paranoid,
whatever
>> >you like, particularly with NSW's history of looking after our heritage.
>> >The Victorians had good sense to store a large number of steam locos in
>> >parks. NSW just decided to cut most of them up or put all their official
>> >eggs into the one basket with the RTM.
>> >Victoria now has groups pulling locos out of parks, doing them up - the
RTM
>> >barely has funds to keep one going.
>> >It is impossible for any one group to look after a wide cross-section of
>> >rail heritage and keep it operational.
>> >
>> >Successive NSW governments could easily be seen as simply seeing rail as
a
>> >way of keep SimsMetal in operation. I think that's why people want to
keep
>> >as much as possible.
>> >----------------------
>> >Darren
>> >
>> >
>> >Paul Hogan wrote in message <36b12d25.0@139.134.5.33>...
>> >>"Darren Yates" <dyates@pnc.com.au> writes: > This is nonsense.
>> >>> There is something called "preserving our heritage".
>> >>> The National Trust has a huge number of buildings and historical
>> >articleson
>> >>> its books.
>> >>> Are you, Bill, interesting in everyone of them?
>> >>> If not, then by your argument only those people who are interested in
>> >those
>> >>> "old things" should pay for their upkeep.
>> >>> IMO, this is a silly argument.
>> >>> ----------------------
>> >>> Darren
>> >>
>> >>Darren, I suspect the right answer lies somewhere between the two
>> >>extremes.  NSW has certainly dragged behind other states in
>> >>recognising that their moveable rail heritage artifacts are an
>> >>important aspect of our short history, and deserving of a similar
>> >>level of support to that provided for fixed heritage assets,
>> >>such as buildings.
>> >>
>> >>Bob Carr, in full election mode, has belatedly started to drum up
>> >>support for heritage conservation, and was quoted this week extolling
>> >>the virtues of preserving our past.On past experience, this
>> >>enthusiasm will be short lived.
>> >>
>> >>In respect to the RTM, successive State Government and state rail
>> >>administrations have been happy to allow a largely volunteer
>> >>organisation to take care their heritage fleet, often struggling
>> >>to stay afloat financially. Yet if the collection were to be broken
>> >>up or deteriorated to unrestorable condition, they would be the
>> >>first to point accusing fingers and decry the neglect of our
>> >>railway legacy!
>> >>
>> >>On the other hand, railfans are an insular and narrow minded lot,
>> >>and they seek to try and preserve anything that survives the scrappers
>> >>attention, regardless of historical significance. This inevitably
>> >>results in a collection that is beyond the ability of the
>> >>group to ever restore to presentable condition.  Both RTM and Dorrigo
>> >>are examples of this . Culling any collection is an emotive subject,
>> >>and most attempts to adopt a sensible curatorial policy usually
>> >>fail due to members who oppose disposal of their "pet" exhibits.
>> >>
>> >>I doubt that any Government would ever fully support the conservation
>> >>of a collection as large as the RTM's -  however I believe they
>> >>do have a community obligation to ensure that a representative
>> >>collection of our railway history is accessible to the public
>> >>as both an educational and recreational resource.
>> >>
>> >>Cheers,
>> >>
>> >>Paul Hogan
>> >>(former RTM Secretary and Director)
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
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