One of these Angels Unawares was Ernie Goodlett.
Mark Tronson picks up the story: As a boy of seven the diesel hauling the 'Sunlander' at Mackay gave me my railway passion. I vividly recall my astonishment at that huge blue diesel locomotive gliding into Mackay railway station.
When we moved to Canberra and I went on holidays which was anywhere near a railway line, the family would find me watching trains.
So it came as no surprise that as soon as I was allowed, at 16 and 9 months in 1968, I left home for Goulburn to become a trainee engineman and within 12 months had transferred to Port Kembla Locomotive Depot.
This proved to be a pivotal move as it was from Wollongong my hockey and Track and field bloomed, my hockey writing was initiated, and my Christian development matured and eventually found myself called to the Ministry.
One of the train drivers at Port Kembla Locomotive Depot was Ernie Goodlett, an old style steam locomotive driver and as a young fireman, I was often scheduled to work with him. We were assigned a different divers for each trip, it was always a joy to be rostered with Ernie Goodlett, a man in his 50's.
He drove steam engines in Cowra from the '50s and later transferred to Port Kembla. Moreover I visited him at his home many times.
Ernie Goodlett was a no nonsense man, yet a true gentleman. He illustrated by example how to live a "manly life", to be "firm yet gentle". He had a firmness in his voice, yet somehow came across as one who could be swayed by sound reasoning.
Ernie showed me how to manage opinions, carefully considering the available options.
He was a remarkable railway story teller. Ernie Goodlett provided many railways stories to me for my sixteen railway books of train driver's anecdotes.
I enjoyed being in his company. If my life could be used of God, one important factor would be other people enjoying my company as I enjoyed Ernie's.
One of my prayers was to develop these good graces, to be myself, laugh heartily with others at what some see as my eccentricities.
Years later my mentor (late) the Reverend F P McMaster (Canberra Baptist Church for 29 years) said to me of this eccentricity: "Mark, people like you, this is a good arrow in your Ministry quiver, allow the Spirit of Christ to engulf it".
The lessons I learnt from Ernie Goodlett illustrated that indeed he was an Angel Unawares.
