Dedication to our heritage is what keeps two Hawke's Bay women on track as volunteers for the Ormondville Railway Preservation Group.
"Volunteers Zelma Reid and Shirley Flaus, both of Hastings, were busy hosting visitors to Ormondville last Saturday, doing an amazing job in the kitchen," historian Paul Mahoney said.
"At 92 Zelma serves lunch at the monthly Ormondville working bees and she must be one of New Zealand's oldest active community volunteers."
Zelma is a railway wife who moved around New Zealand as her husband Ron advanced in his career, ending up at the top of his speciality trade in charge of all the railway tracks in Hawke's Bay, from Gisborne to Woodville.
And although Zelma and Shirley's husbands have now passed away, the two woman continue to volunteer at Ormondville.
"Zelma is an amazing lady and last weekend we had a full on day," Shirley said.
The Flauses become involved with the heritage railway when they read a newspaper story about a train travelling from Wellington to Ormondville.
"My husband decided we should join the preservation society," Shirley said.
"Ormondville is a heritage which must continue."
However, with an hour's travel before they arrive at Ormondville, the women are hoping last Saturday's five viaducts festival will spark interest in others who will join the society as volunteers.