Constituency Statement: Brad Johns

Tuesday 8 September 2026

I rise today to recognise Brad Johns, an icon of the Illawarra Light Rail Museum and much-loved volunteer in my electorate of Whitlam.

Brad has been a member of the Museum for over 40 years, 39 of which he has been Treasurer.

The Illawarra Light Rail Museum is much loved by the local community where people of all ages can enjoy rides on restored steam locomotives, and it is entirely staffed by volunteers.

Brad’s passion for locomotives is infectious.

Brad has taught me about a train called ‘Wallaby’ - how his father used to operate the train during its time at Port Kembla from 1933 to 1962 and the many hours of dedicated work that has gone into repainting the train to restore it.

Brad has also taught me about ‘Kiama’ - the locomotive built in Ohio in 1917, that worked on building the Cordeaux Dam and then moving sand from the Nepean River for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

His greatest joy, however, is the smiles on kids’ faces when they see these historic trains come to life. ‘That’s what it’s about’, he says.

Volunteers like Brad are the lifeblood of our community.

On behalf of the electorate of Whitlam, I congratulate Brad Johns on his many decades of service to the Illawarra Light Rail Museum and I thank him for the important role he plays in preserving the Illawarra’s industrial and rail history.

Thank you, Speaker.

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