Katherine Town Council can hold its head high with the recent success of its celebrations marking The Ghan Inaugural Journey from Adelaide to Darwin on 3 February 2004. Council was involved every step of the way with preparations for the event commencing as far back as August 2003, with a visit by the Director Guest Services and Marketing of Great Southern Railway.
Estimations were originally of around 250 passengers making the inaugural trip, however, the Katherine community turned up in droves to welcome over 380 passengers, politicians and VIPs, on this historical journey.
A guard of honour by stockmaen on horses added that country touch as the train approached the Katherine Railway Terminal, and was a hit with a number of those on board the train.
Mayor Jim Forscutt, Aldermen of Council and the Chief Executive Officer were the first to officially welcome the passengers as they disembarked from the train to join the community in the celebrations. This included many local produce stalls, displays of local Indigenous arts and crafts, whip cracking displays, RAAF dog displays and not to mention the ‘true blue’ Aboriginal Corroboree performed for the many who had never seen Indigenous performers in action before.
The train was also welcomed into the station by two low flying F/A-18 Hornet jets and upon departure, the celebrations were completed with a fly past of three local muster helicopters which provided that ridgy didge outback feel as the train left Katherine behind.
Katherine Town Council staff played hosts to the passengers and members of the local community, providing assistance in the shape of traffic control, host/hostess, information, crowd control and general organisation and coordination of the day.
Mayor Forscutt formally thanked the NT Government for its contribution of over $3m for the construction of the new Katherine Railway Station and stated that he saw a whole world of new opportunities for the region with sales of passenger tickets already reaching over $17m.
Jobs have been created in the region with an additional eleven 120 seat buses to transport train passengers during the scheduled Katherine stopover on tours of the region, including the majestic Nitmiluk National Park or better known as the Katherine Gorge.
Katherine can only go from strength to strength with long term benefits existing for all local industries, including tourism, agriculture and farming and retail.
