By JOLENE OGLE
MORE than 230 passengers on board the Troop Train were welcomed to the township of Cooroy on Friday in true rock star style.
Hundreds of local residents and lucky students turned out to welcome the train to the station, where the passengers disembarked to watch the wreath laying service and enjoy lunch at the Cooroy RSL.
Noosa District State High School students were among those who crowded the station platform to welcome the Troop Train to Cooroy on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing.
Noosa District State High school captains Daniel Nunns and Georgia Edwards met and carried the Anzac Flame for the Cooroy memorial service before the remainder of the students boarded the Troop Train and travelled to Nambour station.
The train, with nine refurbished carriages, left Winton on Monday 20 April stopping at townships on its way to Brisbane, including Longreach, Emerald, Rockhampton, Maryborough and Cooroy, before ending the journey in Brisbane on the night of 24 April.
Many passengers said the trip had been “amazing”, with most passengers travelling to Winton from other towns to catch the train.
Felix Mitchell of Redbank Plains said he had travelled to Winton to board the train in honour of his grandfather and great uncle who walked to Brisbane to enlist in WWI.
“When they got to Brisbane, the medical said they had flat feet and wouldn’t last 25 miles in a march,” he said. “So, you know what they did? They walked to Sydney and enlisted there.”
Felix’s father also served in the Australian Army in WWII and Felix himself served in Vietnam.
Paul and Leanne Ruge said the Troop Train had received a “rock star” welcome since leaving Winton, but said Cooroy was a “fantastic turn-out”.
