Funeral train

By Tania Martin
HUNDREDS of family and friends watched as Puffing Billy stalwart Graeme Breydon took his final train journey last week.
The farewell was a fitting end for a man who dedicated his life to trains.
Mr Breydon’s coffin was transported from Belgrave to his funeral service at Gembrook Station on Wednesday, 30 August by the G42 locomotive which he helped to restore.
After the service his body was taken to a private cremation.
More than 400 family, friends and colleagues from Puffing Billy gathered in brilliant sunshine to pay their last respects at the service.
Mr Breydon was having lunch aboard one of the Puffing Billy trains on Monday, 21 August, a day before his 55th birthday, when he started to feel unwell.
He died later that day in hospital from a heart attack.
Prior to his death friends said he had been in good health and had not experienced any heart problems.
Family and friends who spoke at the funeral remembered Mr Breydon as a special man who was always willing to help those in need.
Deb Lyons from Puffing Billy said Mr Breydon was a selfless man who went out of his way for people who were in trouble.
“But, he would help out in a quiet way because he was never a man to make a big fuss,” she said.
It was fitting that the funeral was held in Gembrook as the town’s station held a special place in Mr Breydon’s heart.
He had told colleagues that he considered the reopening of the railway from Lakeside to Gembrook in 1998 one of the highlights of his time with Puffing Billy.
Mr Breydon’s joined Puffing Billy at 14 which led to a life-long passion for the railway.
He was chairman of the Emerald Tourist Railway Board for the past nine years and was treasurer of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society for the past 16 years.
Ms Lyons said Mr Breydon made a great contribution to developing the professionalism of the railway and always took a keen interest in new ventures, such as the lunch and dinner trains.
Tourism Minister John Pandazopoulos also paid tribute to Mr Breydon at the funeral and offered his condolences to his family.
Bob Farr, Gembrook’s station master, said following the funeral a guard of honour was formed by railway personal.
“It was certainly a fantastic send off,” Mr Farr said.