Chiltern Railroaders and Modellers will hold a craft exhibition and open day this weekend at the Goods Shed, Wills Street.

Brothers Neville and Keith Grigsby, who live in Chiltern and Wodonga respectively, began the group only three months ago after becoming interested in model trains in recent years.

"We each decided to build a lay-out ourselves, which we've been doing during the COVID 12 months, kept us sane," Keith said.

"I said, 'Why don't we start a club in Chiltern?', and they all scoffed and laughed and said, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah', Neville added.

"So like a dog with a bone, I went for it and here we are."

Seeking a permanent home, Chiltern Railroaders and Modellers set up in the Goods Shed, a community space near Chiltern railway station.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The inaugural event aims to demonstrate the club's activities and plans for the future but also includes other crafts and hobbies.

"We've got 15 different demonstrators and 11 displays," Keith said.

"With the help of other people in town that have donated models for our displays and our areas, we've built up a nice little collection of different things."

Groups supporting the exhibition include Albury-Wodonga Doll, Bear and Hobby Show and Chiltern Yarn Bombers.

After this weekend, the Grigsby brothers intend to open their Goods Shed site to the community more regularly.

"Just working on our Sunday afternoon club days, we're having anywhere between 12 and 15 people come in and look around," Neville said.

"We're hoping that, because we've got that sort of response, that we can turn this place into a mini-tourist attraction and display all these crafts, having workshops during the week and weekends for the local community," his brother explained.

The club's own project is a lay-out showcasing Chiltern itself. There's still lots to do, but the brothers agree that's part of the fun.

"You always tweak it, you're always doing something," Neville said.

Opening hours are Saturday, May 15, and Sunday, May 16, 10am to 4pm, gold coin donation.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: