I am in the 95th year of my life.

I enjoy my memories as well as my thoughts on how I could have handled them better.

One of them is my meeting with John Howard in 1996 when he gave me approval to begin planning a freight railway from Melbourne to Darwin via New South Wales and Queensland.

After two decades trying to unite politicians and bureaucrats from 5 governments in backing one vision, I was stunned when a decision was made to build Inland Rail from Melbourne and Brisbane but not connecting to their ports. I was even more staggered as they irresponsibly wasted billions of dollars in gross mismanagement of its construction.

So, I left to create a new company and have spent 4 years with a new team planning the GREENLINK RAILWAY to link the Port of Gladstone with the national freight network at Goondiwindi.

Problem is that, when our Federal Government decided not to build Inland Rail beyond Parkes, it placed Greenlink in jeopardy.

We have taken steps to save the day by offering to build the Parkes Goondiwindi Railway with private capital and we are currently negotiating agreements with the Federal, New South Wales and Queensland governments as well as the Australian Rail Track Corporation and the Port of Gladstone.

While this is proceeding, we are working full time on our planning as it is our intention to complete the Greenlink Railway in four independent stages.

Gladstone to Goondiwindi via Miles.

Goondiwindi to Narrabri, connecting with existing track to Port of Newcastle.

Narrabri to Narromine, connecting with an existing track to Parkes.

Miles to Toowoomba, to link the Darling Downs into the national freight network.

Along all 4 tracks, we will lead a program of industrial development that will attract population away from capital cities.

It all means that my days are filled with interesting challenges as I work beside a talented Project Deliverer, Grant Flekser, who is 50 years younger than me. Its a genuine intergenerational partnership.

GREENLINK RAIWAY IS NOW UNSTOPPABLE.

I have no doubt there are politicians and bureaucrats who will deliberately cause delays but the voter backlash will be enormous for many reasons. One of them is that there are absolutely no votes out there for any politician who stops a 94 years old guy from doing something important for Australia.

In the meantime, I will enjoy every challenge as I am always delighted when I wake up of a morning.

One of my happiest memories takes me back to 1936 when I was just 5 years old. I was thrilled by my first train ride from the little village of Linville to Toogoolawah.

It would turn out to be a track to somewhere.

I loved it so much I have written a book about it called CATCHING THE LINVILLE TRAIN.

Cheers

Everald