#1 Fettler - Werris Creek, NSW, Australia
S 31° 20.956 E 150° 38.816
56J E 276155 N 6529297
Near the Werris Creek Railway Station is a stainless steel rod sculpture, of a railway Fettler.
Waymark Code: WM1177W
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 08/29/2019
Views: 2
This is number #1 in the series of six Figurative Sculptures that are placed around the Australian Railway Monument. Each sculpture stands about 3.5 metres high, and is made of countless pieces of stainless rod, of various lengths; and represents a different railway-related occupation. [I think the rods are 12mm diameter.]
With only representative placement of the rods, it looks like an emaciated 'stick-man', with a pick over his left shoulder. There is a marker plaque bolted to the north-facing side of the concrete base, and being of brushed stainless steel it is very hard to read:
1 FETTLER
'The Fettler was exposed to many risks whilst carrying out the daily duties of laying and repairing tracks along the thousands of kilometres of railway lines in Australia, as evidenced by the toll of terrible accidents and fatalities that occurred over the years.
'An honest, God-fearing, hardworking man, mateship was paramount to his thinking. Fettlers carried pride in the manner to which they maintained the length of line allocated to their Gang, and their efforts enabled the rail systems of this country to operate efficiently. They frequently lived in tents as single men or with their families beside the railway line.
[Artist: Dominique Sutton Commissioned by Railcorp NSW]
Visited: 1025, Tuesday, 7 May, 2019
This sculpture is on the eastern side of the railway line, at Junction Park - the other five railway related Figurative Sculptures are around the amphitheatre of the Australian Railway Monument, immediately north of the Railway Museum.