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\u201cMost of what we do at the moment is locos,\u201d said Paul Bennett, BSME President. \u201cSome people build their own locos, others buy and drive, so you get a whole swag of people. We do it for fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
The public events are a relatively new thing for the organisation, having opened their doors to everyone about four years ago, with success rolling on like a big diesel engine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got one taker the first year,\u201d Mr Bennett said. \u201cThen last year we had about 300 people through. It\u2019s gradually built up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The society runs the public open days four times a year, with subsequent events set for late-November, New Year\u2019s Eve and the Labour Day long weekend.<\/p>\n
They days are major fundraisers for the organisation, which also runs corporate events and kids\u2019 parties to keep the engines stoked and the tracks straight.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the club members donate time, but also some money as well as equipment,\u201d Mr Bennett said. \u201cUnless we can get grants from either the council or off the government, or the Bendigo Bank – like we did, we have to raise the money somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately the BSME is not just for the members as the group is building links with other community organisations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did an event for Ballarat Health Service for some of their clients,\u201d Mr Bennett said. \u201cWe\u2019re also going to organise more regular events for disadvantaged kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
The BSME is offering train rides for $2 a trip on Sunday, 6 October from 11am to 3pm at Invermay Recreation Reserve.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
INVERMAY Recreation Reserve will come alive with excited children \u2013 and kids at heart \u2013 this Sunday as the Ballarat Society of Model Engineers run its first open day of the season. Established in 1985, the society\u2019s 30 strong membership comes from all walks of life but have one thing in common, a love of […]<\/p>\n