I believe most will agree when I say that this year’s AMRE show was a great success. Our attendance figure from the public was excellent and exceeded any of my expectations.

We were also able to present quite a few new layouts at this exhibition. My thanks goes to everyone who presented their layouts. The standard of modelling was of a high class. The new layouts included Wellingford and Bakewell Bridge; Generica; Yinowie Bore; Stewarts; Goppingen and Durnau Stations; Glencoe; Coorowa and  Somewhere in Baden-Württemberg. So you can see there was quite a variety presented by everyone.

This year’s show was also a commemoration for Robert Burford. He is sadly missed by all involved with model railways in Australia. We were also saddened by the loss of Harry Rush who was also a well known person to the model railway fraternity.

The Sunday night dinner was also a good event. A good time was had by all. A special presentation was made to Mrs Lesby Burford and she also handed the Robert Burford Trophy awards out to the winning participants. My congratulations to all the winners. This year I also presented for the first time, a Convenor’s encouragement award. This is given to those who come year after year to the show knowing and not expecting to win any of the major awards but still show up because of their love of the hobby. This year’s winner was David and Vicki Barnes for their Little Oaklands layout.

We were also unfortunate not to have Brian Comport make it to the show due to his van having a major breakdown on the way back from Perth. It was pleasing to see him make it to the Sunday night dinner.

My thanks go to EVERYONE who was involved with this year’s exhibition. Without everyone’s support this exhibition would not happen. To all the teams who worked hard over the show weekend my sincere thanks, to all the traders who came and supported us, to all the little layouts, to all the kindreds who came and supported us, to the ladies in the ticket box, the guys manning the information desk, the security guys and anyone else I may have not mentioned thankyou sincerely.

I would also like to thank the Port Adelaide Enfield City Council for their continued support. The folk from the Make A Wish Foundation for their assistance over the weekend, to Jim Drivas The Good Guys at Gepps Cross for his support and most of all, my thanks to the many people who came and enjoyed our exhibition. I firmly believe that once again, the hobby of model railroading was the winner.

Till next year

Arthur O’Connell
Convenor AMRE 2011