December2012 - Signpost Magazine
December2012 - Signpost Magazine
December2012 - Signpost Magazine
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12 <strong>Signpost</strong> Community <strong>Magazine</strong> Inc. - December 2012 Volume 104<br />
a at<br />
Merry<br />
Christmas<br />
Mystery Goings-On<br />
By Linda Vandenburg<br />
You may have noticed some mysterious goings-on at<br />
Nobelius Station, a short distance east of the Packing<br />
Shed in Emerald.<br />
Someone has revamped the shelter shed, planted a large<br />
number of garden beds and the grass is manicured.<br />
That someone is now revealed: John Michell, volunteer<br />
basketball coach, volunteer Puffing Billy conductor and history<br />
enthusiast.<br />
“Every time I came past it, I noticed the station was so<br />
overgrown,” says Mr Michell.<br />
Eighteen months ago, with the blessing of Puffing Billy<br />
management, Mr Michell started to revamp the station.<br />
Friends and residents have donated plants for the garden<br />
beds, and a friend of Mr Michell volunteered to paint the shelter<br />
shed, which was almost destroyed in a fire several years ago.<br />
“It’s a beautiful little station, so peaceful and quiet. People<br />
even come here now to have lunch.”<br />
Recent additions include possum nesting boxes and the<br />
‘caretaker’, a model owl who sits on the shed roof. Mr Michell<br />
has also branched out into installation art, with colourful bicycle<br />
rims decorating a tree trunk.<br />
“I saw that on a property in Menzies Creek and I thought, I’ve<br />
got a plain old gum tree that could do with something like that. I<br />
call it ‘Nobelius art’.”<br />
Mr Michell is also interested in the history of the Puffing Billy<br />
Railway and its associated buildings. According to his research,<br />
Nobelius was originally used as a commuter station for local<br />
residents.<br />
He is keen for visitors to come and see his handiwork;<br />
donations of plants are most welcome. The station can be<br />
accessed from either the walking track east of the Packing Shed,<br />
or via Station Avenue.<br />
Future plans include more seating for picnics. Mr Michell is<br />
also planning to renovate the ‘Dog Grave’ between Lakeside and<br />
Cockatoo, where Jerry the Railway Dog is commemorated.<br />
John Mitchell hard at it
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