Whistlestop Greg Cowin Remembered A Good Mate, Mentor, Family man, and Dedicated Railway Professional By Fred Sawyer Gregory Ronald Cowin’s career is a perfect example of what it takes to be a dedicated railway professional. Greg’s railway career commenced in April 1978. His first position was as a Junior Station assistant, working at several stations across the Sydney rail network. In 1979 Greg entered “Loco” as a Trainee Engineman based at the Eveleigh locomotive depot. In September 1979 Greg was appointment an Engineman Class 1. In 1985, Greg was appointed a Class 5 driver and transferred to the Electric Train Running (ETR) section of the then State Rail Authority, at Flemington. In 1991 Greg was then promoted to Driver Trainer at Flemington. It was in this position that Greg became a mentor and role model to many newly appointed drivers. Greg was subsequently appointed to the position of Principal Driver. A notable period during Greg’s career was that he worked as a member of the Train Crew Liaison team during the Sydney Olympics. Looking after the wellbeing of the train crews during this very exciting time in Sydney’s history. During 2005, Greg resigned from RailCorp and took on a Driver Trainers position with Southern Shorthaul Railroad (SSR). This is when I first met Greg when I was a naïve young man, fresh out of the safeworking training school, and only a year out of high school. This was where I had the pleasure of working with and learning from Greg.
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Greg retired from the rail industry in 2017, and finally, had the chance to hit the pause button and spend more quality time with his lovely family. Something that he been working towards throughout his career. Sadly however, this was to be short lived, in 2019, he was diagnosed with cancer, and succumbed to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on the 25 June 2021. On the 5 July 2021, I attended Greg’s funeral together with his family a small number of his ex-railway colleagues, close friends and his Army Reserve buddies. It was a full military service. Greg will always be remembered for his extensive list of cheeky catch phrases that has had and still has a profound effect on his family and friends. I will never forget and will always cherish having Greg influence my life. Greg was a good friend, mentor, family man, and a dedicated railway professional. He is survived by his amazing wife, Michelle and his two children, Lucy and Anthony. I extend to the Cowin family my blessings.
Vale Greg Cowin – 1961 to 2021. It is intended that once the lockdown restrictions are relaxed, and social functions can take place; Fred will be working with the RTBU to organize a memorial gathering for Greg. Once this is arranged, notification will be sent to the membership.
Greg & Fred at Port Kembla 2013
RAIL & ROAD September 2021
