THE arrival of the first Phillip Island Model Railway Exhibition at Cowes’ $32 million cultural centre on the weekend wasn’t without its teething troubles.
It was the first time in decades that the popular annual event had ventured away from the Phillip Island Senior Citizens Clubrooms in Lions Court, where the Phillip Island and District Railway Modellers have made their home.
But it was a necessary switch while the Bass Coast Shire Council spends $538,000 on “roof replacement with structural elements, plumbing and re-establishment of services” at the senior cits all of which is nearing completion.
How you spend more than $1/2 million on a new roof for a set of community clubrooms is anyone’s guess.
However, the model trains were on the move and the new central location seemed to be embraced by visitors who attended in good numbers.
According to president of the railway modellers, Geoff Newman, the shire could not have been more accommodating in helping the group set up its 14 model train layouts and other paraphernalia in time for the show.
“As one of the first events of its kind in the new building, we’ve been able to give the shire some feedback on the issues we have identified,” Mr Newman said.
He said he believed the kitchen was too small for a facility of the size and function of Berninneit and there was also access problems, having the only way into the community space opposite the toilets, also in use by patrons at the cinema.
“I think they were pleased to get our feedback when working with community groups.”
Mr Newman said in recognition of it being a temporary move for the annual model railway exhibition, the shire had also come to the party, subsidising the room hire and associated costs through a one-off sponsorship of the event.
It’s by no means clear whether other community groups can afford to stage functions at Berninneit.
Again, the highlights of the model train show were the intricate, working model train layouts, which no doubt take hours and hours of the enthusiast’s time to construct and activate, many with full digital control and authentic sound.
