These are the people on the 2026 National N Scale Convention organising committee.
Convenor
Rodney Bates
I have been involved in N Gauge modelling since the tender age of 7 when my parents bought a house that included a built-in model railway.
This passion continued for many years, and I joined the South Australian N Gauge society as a junior member and was actively involved until work and tertiary education temporarily changed some priorities. On rejoining SANGS, I joined the committee and was President from 2017-2023 and was part of the 2017 N Scale Convention organising committee.
I am now a multi scale modeler, modelling strictly UK outline in N Gauge as well as TT:120, and have a triple scale layout under construction as a scenic test track comprising N Gauge, TT:120 and OO (for the 6 year old of course). I also run a successful Sound, Lighting and Video production company specializing in Musical Theatre.
Secretary
John Campbell
I am the secretary for the convention.
I discovered N Scale while living in London, my father-in-law had a Graham Farish layout, I thought that this was so much better than HO, so on my return to Australia when my children were young, I built a small layout for them.
Once I neared retirement, I became more involved with the hobby.
Treasurer
Peter Cawthorne
I have been modelling N Scale now for over 30 years, since returning from a trip to Canada, riding on the Silver and Blue (now The Canadian) and visiting the Spiral tunnels.
Upon returning home I visited a model train show and was impressed with the scenery-to-track ratio in N Scale.
I joined the club soon after.
I model Canadian trains, and had the Rocky Mountaineer, and VIA Rail LRC cars 3D printed for my collection.
To get most Canadian passenger trains I had to either modify commercial cars or scratch build my own.
My other interest is in creating scenes in T-TRAK. I like to recycle odds and ends to save money.
I have been involved in several model train groups, holding many executive positions in those groups.
Partner Program Coordinator
Carol Van Der Wijngaart
My interest in N Scale Railway models commenced when my husband joined the South Australian N Gauge Society in 2018, of which I am currently Secretary.
My association with railways stems from my Grandfather having been a locomotive driver of the 520 steam engine – Sir Malcolm Barclay Harvey, the symbol of the 2026 Convention.
I enjoy 1:1 scale train travel having experienced the great icons of the Indian Pacific, The Ghan and the Great Southern transversing Australia, and in New Zealand on six wonderful train journeys.
In my working life, I have been a Deputy Principal, Statewide Curriculum Co-ordinator, Teacher and Teacher Librarian in both Primary and Special School settings.
As Co-ordinator of the Partner’s Program, I look forward to meeting other ‘train partners’.
Committee Member
Steve Weedon
I have had N Scale trains for over 50 years.
I have been a member of a few organisations including being a founding member of SANGS.
I currently have a medium sized N scale layout running a mix of American and Australian outline, but will be moving over to 100% Australian in the next few years.
I have attended quite a few previous N Scale Conventions, both here in Adelaide and interstate and am looking forward to the 2026 one.
Advisor
Graham Cocks
Editor of the following publications – Aust-N-Scale Modellers Newsletter (1995-2009), N Scale Modelling in Australia magazine (2006-2009), N Scale Modeller webmag (2009-2020).
Owner of the award winning layout ‘Strathalbyn’ (2016). Author of ‘Strathalbyn to Milang in N Scale’ in October 2025 Issue of AMRM.
Author of ‘Fleurieu Peninsula Railway, Modelling Strathalbyn and Sandergrove in N Scale’ in 2018 issue of the Notes of the Modelling the Railways of South Australia Convention.
Awarded the prestigious Dane Parker Memorial Perpetual Shield at the 2001 and 2019 National N Scale Conventions.
Web Site and Email System
Trevor Rowland
I am relatively new to the hobby, only having started when I retired in 2018, although I still have my original Hornby Dublo 3-rail trains and track from when I was a young boy (it still works too).
I worked in the Lift and Escalator industry, performing electrical & electronic installation, servicing and repair duties, then worked as a Supervisor, the Training Coordinator, and Technical Support Coordinator at various times.
My home layout is able to operate fully automatically if required, with train movements, point control, lighting and sounds effects all controlled via custom scripts running under JMRI.
I also have several T-TRAK modules that I use with one of the clubs I am a member of, and I enjoy integrating microcontrollers and electronic systems into these to provide interactive opportunities for members of the public.