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2025 Transport Heritage Forum & THNSW AGM

  • THNSW
  • 2 days ago
  • 2 min read
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Around 100 members and sector representatives attended Transport Heritage NSW’s inaugural Transport Heritage Forum in Sydney on Saturday 15 November 2025. The event featured a series of information sessions, sector networking and a dedicated ONRSR briefing for rail heritage operators, alongside THNSW’s Twelfth Annual General Meeting.


The day concluded with the NSW Minister for Regional Transport, The Hon. Jenny Aitchison MP, announcing the successful recipients of the 2025 Transport Heritage Grants Program.


AGM 2025 – outcomes and highlights

As part of the day, THNSW members gathered for the organisation’s twelfth Annual General Meeting.


Annual Report highlights

The 2024–25 Annual Report showcased another impressive year, including:

  • 82,000 museum visitors and 102,000 passengers across the Loop Line, main line and major events.

  • Record results for Day Out With Thomas, Thirlmere Festival of Steam and the Transport Heritage Expo, supported by wins at the 2024 Western Sydney Tourism Awards and 2025 National Trust Heritage Awards.

  • Major restoration achievements, including HFS 2017 and 2705, with new projects 3820 and 3265 underway across the fleet and broader collection.

  • Ongoing progress on the Loop Line Upgrade Project and rollout of THNSW’s refreshed culture program and organisational values.


The 2024–25 Annual Report is available here.


THNSW 2025 highlights reel presented to members at the AGM

Life membership

Marian Whatman was awarded Life Membership for her outstanding service, leadership in volunteer development, contribution to education programs and embodiment of THNSW’s values.


Board election results

THNSW Director Ian Sheppard pays tribute to fellow Director, Dale Budd OBE, who stepped down at this year’s AGM after decades of service.
THNSW Director Ian Sheppard pays tribute to fellow Director, Dale Budd OBE, who stepped down at this year’s AGM after decades of service.

Two elected director positions were determined via ballot:

  • Ian Sheppard was re-elected for a further three-year term.

  • David Oram was elected for a three-year term , filling the vacancy left by Dale Budd OBE who stepped down at the conclusion of the AGM.


The AGM acknowledged Dale Budd’s decades of significant service, from the early NSW Rail Transport Museum era through to his long-standing contributions in governance, curation and sector leadership.


In addition, Howard Collins OBE was reappointed as a non-elected Appointed Director for a further three years.

 

Information session – key updates

Following the AGM, a combined members and sectors information session was held with THNSW CEO Andrew Moritz who outlined recent achievements, current projects and future priorities.


Updates were provided on key fleet projects, sector program and the Loop Line Upgrade Project.


The CEO outlined the draft Strategic Plan, shaped around three pillars: Excellence, Experience and Leadership. The plan focuses on strengthening organisational capability, enhancing visitor experiences and reinforcing THNSW’s leadership role in the sector.


THNSW continues to work with Government on long-term funding, custody arrangements and future facilities. Feedback from members and sector representatives will help finalise the plan, to be released in early 2026.

 

2025 Transport Heritage Grants announced

The day concluded with the announcement of this year’s successful Transport Heritage Grants recipients, attended by the NSW Minister for Regional Transport, The Hon. Jenny Aitchison MP.


Ten outstanding projects from across NSW will receive funding to support restoration, interpretation and education initiatives that help preserve and share our state’s rich transport heritage.


Learn more about this year’s successful recipients here.

 
 
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