Recent Tour Reports

TOFS TRIP 881

Friday 24th Apr 2026

Croker Oars, Oxley Island

(Organised by TOFS MC)

TOFS (20): Malc S (359), Dave T (351), Norm MS (307), Albert K (403), Ian C (376), Garry S (322), Kevin H (324), Alan H (462), Alan J (416), Jim F (249), Ray M (229), Peter W (326), Peter W (354), Alan M (288), Bill L (367), Peter B (399), Alan E (311), Will L (282), Kit C (415), Peter T (352).

Twenty members set sail for Croker Oars at Oxley Island at 9am on Friday morning 24th April on the Halliday Shores Express with our usual driver, Dave T (351), at the wheel.

Following a morning tea stop at Taree Service Centre, our group arrived at the company’s premises in Cowan’s Lane, Oxley Island, at around 10am.  Guests were welcomed by several friendly dogs and a very friendly pig named Chrissie (pictured), but more importantly, by Administration Officer, Mandy Hennessey (pictured in centre of group photo), but it wasn’t long before our host, proprietor Darren Croker arrived on the scene.

The tour of the vast factory complex, a hidden gem of the Manning Valley, took all the two hours available.  Darren took the group through the various stages of manufacture of their high-quality sculling, rowing and surf oars (pictured) in a very knowledgeable and eloquent manner.  Full information about the company and its products can be found at www.crokeroars.com.

On completion of the tour around 12noon, the crew set out for the short bus run to the Old Bar Tavern in Saltwater Road for lunch. Being a Friday, the tavern was buzzing with activity.  Members quickly made their choices from the menu and were able to partake in some liquid amber as the meals were being prepared.  The journey home was uneventful, with some observed to be nodding off as an expression of their appreciation for another magnificent TOFS outing.

Thanks to Alan J (416) for organising the venue, Malc S (359) for facilitating attendance, Norm MS (307) for financial services, Dave T (351) for getting the team there and back safely, and particularly to Darren Croker for a brilliant factory tour.

Ian C (376) Mid Coast Tour Contributor

TOFS Trip 883

Thursday 7 May 2026

CHIPPENDALE GENTRIFICATION

(Organised by TOFS KO)

TOFS (32): JP (27), Ken H (48), Daryl H (65), Bruce K (68), Michael F (108), Phil G (154), Rex M (179), Graham L (185), Greg O (200), Chas H (203), Jim M (209), Richard M (219), Ron O (231), Ray N (235), Stuart P (264), Keith R (283), Chris H (298), Phil B (345), Allan S (349), Jeffrey H (373), Paul E (380), Lyle W (386), Robert E (431), David W (434), Ron B (446), Bobby T (448), Ted B (451), David C (467), Les H (469), Ron C (470), Alastair L (471), Frank W (475).

We met at Spice Alley Chippendale on a cold and windy morning, to visit this well located and rapidly changing suburb. Historian Dr Ian Hoskins has taken us on many tours before, including one to Chippendale in September 2019. Some of us were on that tour and the consensus was that this time he successfully mixed it up and made our tour different to that prior one. He told us that he is now living in the suburb, so no doubt has a more intimate view of its fabric and history.

From Victorian era buildings to modern day apartment blocks with solar panels and hanging gardens, the mix of architecture is amazing, some blending and some clashing. The first buildings he showed us were houses built in the Victorian era but in Georgian style with not much adornment, then later terrace houses with filigree wrought iron verandas interspersed with industrial architecture from the early 1900’s through to the 1940’s.

Chippendale was named after William Chippendale who was given a land grant of 95 acres in 1819. He was also responsible for the first murder when he shot one of a group of convicts trying to steal potatoes from his farm. It is told that he bore an anchor tattoo upon his chest.

By 1820 there was Robert Cooper’s gin distillery which had a dam where people fished for eels. In 1835 Robert Tooth and Charles Newnham established the Kent Brewery. They used water from Blackwattle Creek to brew their beer. In 1853 the building was burnt to the ground, but it was replaced and expanded. In 1911-12 the brewery expanded to 6 acres taking some of the residents’ homes, but they also built stylish apartments to house some of their workers. In 1983 the brewery was sold to Adelaide Steamship Co and later Carlton United. In 2007 it was sold to Frasers properties, starting a new era of development. 

There was also a CSR factory which burned animal bones and meat off cuts to make charcoal for filtering. It was known locally as Eau de Cologne Valley. The workers from these industries lived in squalor in poor quality housing, the worst of which was in Linden Lane, so bad it was demolished in 1870. The plague came through in the 1900’s taking a heavy toll.

A lot of the workers were Irish Catholics, so St Benedicts Church was completed in 1852 and consecrated in 1862. St Benedicts School was also built and two TOFS on our tour, Richard M (219) and Phil G (154) are former pupils. Because of the sectarianism at the time Sir Henry Parkes decided to resume parish land and build Blackfriars Public School for 1500 pupils. This school was never full because education was not the highest priority of the residents at the time.

The criminal element in the suburb was notorious including Chow Hayes during WW2 who later murdered boxer Bobby Lee in 1951, and Warren Lanfranchi who was shot by Roger Rogerson in 1981. 

Our final point was the Mortuary Station, built to despatch trains to Rookwood carrying coffins and mourners. The inscription on the gates includes an hourglass representing the mortality of people.

LORD GLADSTONE HOTEL

William Ewart Gladstone was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for 12 years over four non-consecutive terms. Born and raised in Liverpool, he was of purely Scottish ancestry.  He was an ardent opponent of the opium trade, calling it "a war more unjust in its origin, a war more calculated in its progress to cover this country with permanent disgrace". Gladstone was popularly known in his later years as the "Grand Old Man" or "G.O.M." The acronym was sometimes satirised as "God's Only Mistake", or after the fall of Khartoum, inverted to "M.O.G.", "Murderer of Gordon"

As Secretary of State for the Colonies (1845–1846), William Gladstone supported convict transportation to Australia, specifically planning a new North Australian colony, despite local opposition. He navigated the transition toward colonial self-governance, shifting from a protectionist stance to allowing greater autonomy for Australian colonies. 

The city of Gladstone in Queensland is named after him, honouring his role in 19th-century colonial administration. His liberal reforms and "hands-off" imperial policies shaped the development of the colonies. During his brief tenure, Gladstone attempted to address the crisis of convict overcrowding in Tasmania by proposing a new penal colony - the "Gladstone Colony" (North Australia) in 1847 at Port Curtis. Although abandoned after only a few months due to a change in the British government, the site was later resettled as the city of Gladstone.

MUSIC

Listen to the haunting Brian Cadd "Ginger Man" (1972).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWwRmmQCi18

Graham L (185)

TOFS TRIP 882 

Tuesday 28 April 2026

Guided Tour of Erskineville and Newtown by historian Elliot Lindsay

Attendees (16): JP (27), Phil G (154), Graham L (185), Jim Mc (209), Ron O’H (231), Ray N (235),  Kenn W (243), Bill H (278), Keith R (283), Frank C (375), Rob E (431), Ron B (446), Les H (469), Frank W (475), Rob C (478), Gino V (481).  

We all met our tour guide Elliot Lindsay on the Erskineville rail overpass on a fine and sunny morning. A lot of us remembered Elliot from the fantastic tour “Murders most foul” we did with him in May 2024. 

     Elliot commenced his tour in explaining the history of the suburb of Erskineville, how it was founded and the early settlers in the suburb and the building of the railway station. We headed off wandering along streets sited with terrace houses and surprisingly some free-standing homes. We stopped outside an old terrace with a tragic history.  Apparently, the occupants were tasked with looking after children while the mothers worked.  Sometimes this would be over a period of days.  When the mother returned to pick up her child she found the house deserted. Nobody knew where the occupants had gone.  Sometime later the back yard was dug up to discover small bones buried in the garden.  The occupants had smothered the children and buried them.  The police discovered that the couple had performed this horrendous task previously. They were prosecuted, the man being hanged and because women couldn’t be hanged in this era she was sentenced to life imprisonment. 

          As we wandered the streets, we were surprised by the number of beautiful parks in the district scattered amongst some stately homes. Elliot led us to the Macdonaldtown railway station. This is the ONLY building bearing the name Macdonaldtown in the entire district. The rest of the area is called Erskineville.  

        When we reached King St. Newtown, we stood opposite the building no. 67 which was the site of the Newtown Siege. In 1906 a man William Tanna who lived in a hut behind the main house demanded money from the owner for services rendered. When this was refused the man barricaded himself in the cottage. The police were summoned. When a constable Wallace arrived, he demanded Tanner give himself up, but he was met with a barrage of bullets bringing him to the floor. He subsequently died from the wounds. A huge funeral was held for the constable completely blocking King St.

          From here we walked to the old Camperdown cemetery founded in 1848 on Church st. Newtown which is heritage listed.  Here we found many old gravestones marking the resting place of many dignitaries from days gone by some being Thomas Mitchell, the first colony surveyor, and Charles Windeyer the first mayor of the colony. An interesting grave is that of Eliza Donnithorne, a jilted bride who stood up at the altar. She went on to never remove her wedding dress. It is said her story was the background to the Charles Dickens novel “Great Expectations”

        We had been exploring the district for about 2 hours when it was decided to head for the Coopers Hotel on King St. a short walk from the cemetery. We were greeted by the hotels “Rainbow Colours” emphasizing the hotels main clientele. Here we had a choice of nine meals for a sum of $14. A great deal.  The food was voted excellent by all the guys.  Heading home was simple with a bus stop to the city right at the door.

           Look forward to catching up with all the guys on another great tour. 

             Cheers for now

             Kenn Whittaker (243)  TOFS  SS Group Tour Organiser

TOFS TRIP REPORT 878

TUESDAY 14TH APRIL 2026

LUNCH CHATSWOOD RSL

(Organised by CC-TOFS)

TOFS (13): Peter B (32), Paul E (380), Phil G (154), Anthony T (420), John P (27), Rob B (440), Jason F (464), John L (477), Peter W (149), Sam H (193), Lloyd S (138), Terry W (137), Andrew M (16).

Well, it was a very different start to the journey for Rob and I to get to Chatswood RSL.

  Instead of the usual train trip we disembarked off a cruise ship at the quay and caught the metro to Chatswood, unfortunately my bag got caught and got hit by the fast closing door and took skin off both arms.

After getting patched up at Chatswood we went onto the RSL getting there a bit early and waited for the other members to arrive.  In the meantime, the door man offered a membership deal that was hard to resist $10 for the year a free drink voucher, plus another drink voucher on your card , access to the $14 lunch specials and $20 voucher, plus a drink voucher on your birth month.

After catching up with the other boys and after the usual greet and meet, we explained about the membership deal and about half joined up.

Most of the members enjoyed the lunch special which was quite generous in size and enjoyed the usual conversation. I would like to thank Lloyd S for making the effort to bring Terry W along to our lunch as we had not seen him for some time, so it was great to catch up with him about how he has been getting along.

I must apologise for not getting a group photo as during lunch I was able to get an appointment at my doctors medical centre and had to rush off early to make the appointment and forgot until I was on my way.

Regards

Peter B JP 32

25 April 2025.

TOFS TOUR 880

Wednesday 22nd April 2026

Charles Darwin Walk Wentworth Falls

(Organised by TOFS WW)

TOFS (15): JP (27), Ken H (48), Daryl H (65), Phil K (123), Phil G (154), Graham L (185), Greg O(200), Roger I (320), Peter O (348), Gary H (366), Paul E (380), Bill R (389), Denis P(430), David C (467), Ken C (474).

Well, this seems to be the fourth time we have run this little wander out to the Wentworth Falls cliff tops and back. Once in 2017, 2019, 2024 and again in 2026. Would you believe it, some TOFs members come back for repeats (see those underlined above)? Yes, eight out of fifteen from 2024. Maybe it is the travel, the company or of course the FOOD at the end of the 6km meander. It did however, mean that I had to have a ‘wail list’ put in place for those still wanting to attend. The weather was perfect for the dawdle through the swamp areas and bush to the cliffs. This time after our first morning tea pit stop, NO ONE LEFT THEIR BAG BEHIND as per the last time. 

After our little reminder from Allan S about safety on trips I made sure I clearly spelt out the danger of crossing the GWH at Wentworth Falls. There are three sets of lights in close proximity and Phil and I have learnt from doing the pre walks for this trip that YOU MUST FOLLOW the correct SIGNAGE at the crossing walk in front of you. The traffic goes very fast in this area and there are no second chances. As per usual the whole group was intact to board the train at the end of the day.

This walk area has been subject to both fire and flood over the last 5 years and it was closed for some time with only two thirds of it open for us in 2024. Now however, the work has been finished and we were able to traverse low lying swamps and creek crossings from the higher safety of new steel raised walkways. This is a very level and easy walk to the base of the cliff climb.

JP had a little misstep and after catching a nearby bush and hanging on well he avoided the 2 metre drop into the ferns below. We ushered him back onto the pathway and down to the first aid seat that was a few metres away. His hat had to be called in for rescue from the lower reaches of ferns by David/Roger..? Luckily a few bandaids, clean up and JP was back on the bus with us all.

 One of the variations this time was a little detour to ‘The Weeping Rock Waterfall’. It was a beautiful side trek to another of the sparkling, splashy waterfalls that the Blue Mountains are quite well known for. Then the trek UP began. I had pointed out that the steps at the end were the only real challenge but gave us spectacular views of the Wentworth Falls and the Jamison Valley with Mount Solitary in the background. In true TOFs style everybody powered on upwards (as much as all older chaps can ‘power on’) with a few diversions for a quick pics through the trees of the Wentworth Falls and other valley views. The other pleasant thing about being at the cliff edge was the appearance of the local Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos that are there in large numbers, squawking and wailing high above the trees and cliff tops. They are the symbol for the pathway signs for this part of the Grand Cliff Top Walk that starts at the entrance to the Charles Darwin Walk.

I should say too that all through out our jaunt we passed a lot of others walking in both directions, of all ages, cultures and countries and it was a very pleasant time to chat with them and tell them about TOFS. Even our group photo was taken by a lady from Melbourne who asked if there was a Victorian Association of TOFS.

TOFS TRIP 877

Thursday 9th April 2026

Children’s Medical Research Institute

(Organised by TOFS NM GROUP)

TOFS: (16) JP (27), Phil G (154), Graham L (185), Chas H (203), Stuart P (264), David M (271), Allan S (349), John O (357), Lyle W (386), Denis P (430), Ron B (446), Bobby T (448), Jason F (464), Les H (469), Frank W (475), Peter L (479).

On a stunning Autumn morning, 16 TOFS set off from Westmead Station for the short walk to CMRI at Westmead.  Everyone had taken Mr Albanese’s advice and travelled by public transport.

We were met at the Institute by our host Jennifer, and we gathered with a group from Loftus Probus Club for our talk.  The subject was Genetics, the combination of genes which we inherit from our parents, and which determine our characteristics. Jennifer presented a most interesting talk covering Cells, Chromosomes and DNA, discovered by Crick and Watson way back in 1953.  Did you know that we share 97% of our DNA with Chimpanzees, interesting fact.

Naturally, this is such a complicated area of science that much of what we learned was a bit overwhelming, however, there were a lot of questions answered with Jason proving to be our star pupil.  He was complimented by our host for his excellent questions.

We learned that the Institute was established in 1958 and is today one of Australia’s leading research organisations.

Time for a break for morning tea, and a splendid spread was set before us.

Our next speaker was Dr Sobinoff, who leads a team at the Institute, specialising in Telomeres, which maintain chromosomal stability.  I will not begin to try to explain how this all works, suffice to say that they influence life span, and who knows one day CMRI researchers may find a way to reverse the aging process.

The Doctor tried his best to speak to us in “layman’s terms”, which made his presentation a bit simpler to understand. 

Next it was off to one of the many laboratories with our guide Imogen, to learn something of Gene Therapy, known as The Medicine of the Future.

CMRI has several teams focused on Gene Therapy, developing cures for Genetic Diseases.  There are 6,000 genetic diseases, and 10% of all hospital admissions are

related to genetic diseases.  The CMRI labs are categorized dependent on the degree of danger associated with the work going on.  Fortunately for us, we were in a germ-free zone, so we all escaped into the fresh air unscathed.

A fascinating day, and a privilege to learn about the important work being done at CMRI.

The kind receptionist on the front desk took our group photograph, before we left for the Light Rail and a short trip to Church Street, Parramatta, and lunch at the Royal Oak.  I did not hear any complaints about the meals so assume that everyone was satisfied with the fare.

We had been offered a light lunch at CMRI, however by that time I had made a lunch booking at the Royal Oak.

Please Google CMRI Westmead for more information on the work being done there.

D. Moore (271)

TOFS TRIP 876

Friday 20 March 2026

Zig Zag Railway

(Organised by TOFS WW Sub-group)

TOFS [22]: JP (27), Terry O’H (147), Phil G (154), Peter M (155), Dennis W (177), Rex M (179), Graham L (185), Kenn W (243), Rob O (250), Chris R (251), Peter M (288), Peter O (348), Allan S (349), John O (357), Lyle W (386), Rob E (431), Kingsley G (439), Ron B (446), Bobby T (448), Ash B (458), David C (467), Peter L (479).

Well, that was a trip that was.

But before we climb aboard, let’s look at some phases in the life of the Zig Zag Railway.

Original construction

The linking of Sydney to the western plains of NSW by rail, vital for the transport of passengers, produce and coal, faced a major hurdle just outside of Lithgow.

The rail line had to descend the steep western side of the Blue Mountains, a vertical drop of 550 feet (or about 170 metres). The gradient was such that no train could ever have negotiated it.

Our old mate, Chief Engineer John Whitton, about whom we hear so much when all the good and remarkable features of the railway networks in NSW and Victoria are discussed, came to the party again. He designed and supervised the construction of three separate tracks or “roads” which enabled trains to forward/reverse/forward their way up/down between Clarendon and the valley below.

Construction began in 1863, and included three immense sandstone viaducts and four deep rock cuttings over about 7 kms, and two reversing points.  Sections of the track still imposed an onerous 1 in 42 gradient.

All of this was accomplished by pick, shovel, black powder and hand barrows.

Operating years

The Great Lithgow Zig Zag opened on 18 October 1869.

The limitations of a single track, increasing volumes of rail traffic due to the growth and spread of the population, the inability of the revering points to accommodate longer trains, and of course the step gradients, led to calls from as early as 1885 for an alternative to the Zig Zag.

Construction of the Ten Tunnel Deviation finally began on 1 June 1908, and it was opened on 16 October 1910. The gradient had been reduced to 1 in 90.

The Zig Zag Railway was thus bypassed and it was closed, the complete area surrounding it being declared a reserve.

Restoration and tourism

In the early 1970’s, a group of volunteers formed the Zig Zag Railway Co-op, and began to relay the track and to acquire locomotives and rolling stock.

The original gauge of the Zig Zag Railway was the standard NSW gauge of 4 feet 81/2 inches.  At the time, the Commissioner of Railways would only make NSW heritage locomotives and rolling stock available to the officially sponsored NSW Rail Transport Museum.

So the Co-op opted to relay the track in narrow gauge 3 feet 6 inches which would enable them to source locomotives and carriages from Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania which explains the make-up of the Co-ops fleet.

In 1975, the first tourists were carried between Top Points and Bottom Points. 

With the assistance of a Bicentenary Grant, the line was extended to Clarence in 1988 and passenger services ran over the full length of the railway.

Due to the increasing complexity of regulations including safety requirements of running a railway, and rising costs, the Zig Zag Railway was forced to close in 2012.

Significant bushfires in 2013 and 2019 and a flood devastated the railway and the site generally.

Once again the Co-op and its volunteers worked very hard to reinstate the railway which reopened on 27 May 2013.

TOFS endeavours

It was about that time that the Zig Zag Railway was added to the TOFS WW ‘To Do’ List’, but several attempts to get the Trip moving failed.

In early 2025 (or was it earlier?), Ron O’H (231) passed on some Contact Details which were pursued, but it wasn’t until February 2026 that a string of OFS emails were acknowledged. Indeed acknowledged with the news that 20 March 2026 was the last date for which we could book a Mainline Connection trip on the Zig Zag Railway, as after Easter this year, that option will no longer be offered.

And of course, we need a Mainline Connection to utilise our $2.50 entitlement (How good is that Opal Card?).

And so, the “final 20 tickets” were booked, and claimed by our members, leaving 4 members on a Wait List. “You can’t leave them behind” tormented me, and so an extra 4 “ final” standing-room only tickets were negotiated.

A couple of late withdrawals (sadly, for a funeral which no one can just ignore, and for an operation (you wait and wait for medical stuff, so grab it while you can), and another non-convincing late withdrawal by a somewhat regular miscreant as far as bookings go.

A couple of late replacements, and Bingo! A party of 23.

No, no, hold on.  Ron O/H (231), who provided the impetus for pursuing our Trip, was failed by his diary. As our train headed west from Blacktown, Ron was located at Port Stephens. Oops, Ron.

Make that 22.

And in the end we did not need the standing -room only tickets. We all got a seat.

Then came:

• The Zig Zag train was late arriving at Bottom Points (our contact had intimated several days before that there might be a delay. How did she know that?)

• The Zig Zag locomotive was not a steam engine as anticipated by all, but a bloody diesel! The situation was accepted in good spirit by all TOFS except the Tour Leader, who I believe is still peed off.

• The late running became very late running, and there was no chance of us catching the scheduled 1.31 p.m. train back to the City.

2.31 p.m. it had to be. There are some hours in life that you just cannot get back.

• And so to home.  

• At the end of the day, an unfortunate precedent that should be avoided in future at all cost. Apart from Ash B (458) who travelled further west to renew acquaintances, the whole of our party travelled home together and alcohol-free. Sorry lads.

Awards

Two members received Bravery Awards and Brownie Points on the day:

Ron B (446) knew very well that 20 March 2026 was his 55th wedding anniversary when he was offered a ticket, but did not hesitate to book. Brave man.

Rob E (431) received accolades galore for his caretaking role on our return journey. Thanks again, Rob.

Rex M (179)