Re: Passing of Graeme Inglis
  Roderick Smith

This sad news hits hard: I am also over three score years and ten.
Graeme and I were contemporaries: part of a wide friendship circuit sharing
enthusiasms and adventures, in the same manner as those about six years our
senior. Nearly all went on to be active supporters of the hobby, with many
different groups.
Some memories are blurred: which were shared; which weren't?
We were regulars at Jack McLean's Wingrove. In later years, Graeme was
the regular loco mechanic. He rarely operated, but spent his time fixing
locos, and would take one home for major work, and return it next time.
Graeme's first school was at Perry Bridge (Gippsland). In later years I
made a point of driving home from Bairnsdale by that back road, then took
my boat up Perry River. IIRC his main career was at Blackburn Lakes
Primary, as Principal.
I was at Daylesford on a steam tour. Graeme was there in his new Datsun
1600, and we explored the remains of the route to Newlyn in the break. He
made a three point turn, and backed into a stump: the car's first dent.
In 1974, Stephen McLean and I had an adventurous journey to Normanton: fly
to Brisbane, train to Cairns, fly to Normanton. We settled into lunch in
our pub, and Graeme arrived. He had just driven from Melbourne with
friends via inland roads, most of which were unsurfaced. All five of us
road the Wednesday railmotor to Croydon, returning next day.
He was on LRRSA Council amongst his many hobby interests, and was a member
of the group which inspected Tasmania one Queens Birthday long weekend.
Here are the first of three photos which I can find fast.
740829Th-SMcL24-RM74. Front: Graeme & Clyde; rear Roderick and Alan
750615Su-GS33-ZeehanMuseum-GInglis-RSmith
750616M-GT18-LuneRiver-RSmith Graeme is in the second row, behind the blue
jumper.
Roderick Smith


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