Bunbury man reunited with the tram he once drove at Whiteman Park

George Conner drove Tram 66 from the time it first went into service in April 1917 through to its iconic final day when the tramways closed in 1958 and he didn’t think he would ever see the grand old dame again.

Now a Baptistcare resident, Mr Conner was overheard reminiscing about his time on the tramways and a plan to reunite the two was formed. 

The 97-year-old journeyed to Perth with four generations of family members to see his tram once more with the help of Baptistcare staff.

“Soon after the war I had to find a job,” Mr Conner said.

“I was offered a position up north but my fiancé said ‘if you’re going to go up north there’s no-one up north so you keep going as I won’t be going with you’.

“So I had to give up that job and took a job on the trams in Perth, so I could talk to people and get married.”

Tram 66 was the last tram ever to run through the streets of Perth. 

It was restored over 23 years and now forms part of the Whiteman Park Heritage Tram Tours.

Baptistcare chief executive Russell Bricknell said Mr Conner’s support workers found out that Tram 66 was part of the heritage trams operating in Whiteman Park and organised for him to board his beloved tram one last time. 

“Our philosophy is very much about helping people pursue their personal goals and passions, and live life to the full, no matter what their age,” he said.

“They arranged for him to make the 200km trip to Whiteman Park to meet members of the Perth Electric Tramway Society Inc and jump on board the tram for the first time in 59 years.

“It was an incredible day which meant so much to Mr Conner and a fantastic example of how Baptistcare staff always go above and beyond to keep the people in our care happy and healthy,” he said.