Conservation volunteers helped restore the museum’s historic turntable, removing rust and applying a fresh lick of paint.

The volunteers first visited Valley Heights in November 2009 and managed to sand, undercoat and paint one side of the turntable. Thanks to a partnership between Conservation Volunteers Australia and the Office of Rail Heritage they were able to complete the important restoration this year.

Volunteers travelled from Sydney each day under the watchful eye of their team leader, Eduardo Gallo.

“This is a special group of volunteers doing a great job,” he said.

Fast Track Heritage projects bring together a team of specially recruited volunteers for up to one week to deliver a concentrated work program nominated by a rail heritage group.

The work undertaken is generally unskilled but labour intensive, so that skilled regular volunteers are available to do the more pressing conservation tasks that require specialist knowledge.