Rixon, Henry Norman

Rixon joined the railways as a cleaner in 1913. He enlisted in the AIF Light Horse in 1915 and served with the 10th Brigade field artillery in France until wounded a month before Armistice.

He returned to the Railway Department as a fireman and transferred to Tenterfield, serving subsequently at Wallerawang, Dorrigo, West Tamworth and Moree before returning to Armidale in about 1938 and joining the salaried staff. He completed his service as a driver, being promoted through the ranks from cleaner to fireman and when he retired in 1955 was reputed to have 'almost personal knowledge of every sleeper in the northern section of the system'. He was branch secretary of the railways union twice and a member for 40 years.

Rixon drove the first train out of Dorrigo on 20 December 1924 along reputedly the most 'exciting' stretch of line in the country, from Dorrigo to Glenreagh.

[Brief Biography compiled by Robin Hammond, January/February 2004]