Any local resident or visitor to Milang who has enjoyed the Milang Historic Railway Museum cafeteria will know that the inexpensive, simple food and beverages served there are only possible thanks to the efforts of a wonderful team of volunteers. A leading light in that efficient and friendly team and perhaps the hardest working volunteer is the delightful Sheila Fellows who may be glimpsed with spatula in hand cooking on the hotplate.
This selfless lady arrived in South Australia from the UK in 1970. Sheila met her partner and railway cafeteria volunteer colleague Harold while travelling in Tasmania. Together they lived and worked in remote settlements and stations in both NT and Queensland before settling in Milang. Clearly these two like hard work because between them they had a family of nine children augmented by an additional four adopted children. Sheila has only twenty-three grandchildren and knows the birthday of each one.
The cafeteria is normally open on Sundays 11:30am until 4 pm.
Sheila has been volunteering since 2022 when the cafeteria menu offered only scones and warmed up frozen ham and cheese sandwiches. She soon suggested changes and introduced other initiatives which have produced not just a more extensive menu but significantly increased the café income all of which supports the museum after expenses are paid.
Sheila is now the cafeteria expert at flipping burgers and eggs on the kitchen hotplate. She and Harold not only help operate the cafteria every Sunday but also buy the supplies.
The cafeteria has an interesting menu. On one side is the menu from 1960 and if you order from it you need to pay in shillings and pence. On the other side is the REAL current menu with staple delights such as Devonshire Tea, Egg & Bacon Sandwich, Hamburger with The Lot, Milkshakes or Ice-Coffee.
The Railway Museum is always looking for volunteers in any aspect of the museum especially the cafeteria (once a month on Sundays). Just pop in and meet the friendly volunteer team. ALL proceeds support the upkeep and operation of the museum.
