By Georgia Marett
If you’ve been to Yarraville station in the morning peak you’ll have heard Steve Gauci’s voice over the loud speaker giving weather updates, sharing a local fact, or announcing the next train. You’ll also know that Steve doesn’t use the official Metro script.
Steve says his approach changed when one day he went off-script and someone said it was funny. That’s when he realised he was a small part of people’s lives and he could do something positive with that. Initially he just started saying ‘hello’ to everyone.
Then during COVID he began ‘Happy Friday’ and started playing ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ over the loudspeaker by putting a microphone up to his tablet speaker. Someone took a video, posted it online and the internet took care of the rest.
Through day-to-day kindness Steve has built a community around Yarraville station, where people say ‘hello’, stop for a chat, request a song, or wear one of his smiley face badges or stickers. Steve has watched babies become schoolchildren, been invited to a kid’s party, a funeral and local music gigs, and received more letters, gifts and compliments than his office can contain. Crucially, he says that community has been there to support him right back when he has needed it.
In his own words: “You can connect to everybody if you listen to what they say.”
Steve Gauci – personifies, doing Deed’s – the pleasure in doing them.
He is deserving of all the accolades afforded him over Years.
Stevens – calmness, composure and absolute Humbleness – never deviates, that in the Core of him, is a life lived of kindness, of thoughtfulness consideration of “others” and of Deeds.
Stevens humbleness “blessed” special.
“The Deeds you Do may be the only sermon some person may hear to-day.”
Bloke from Assisi some 800 years ago left us with those ‘blessed” words and Steven he examples the message of the words.
Passing the micro-phone to our family member, being 18 years of age, with impairment asking Zander to announce the next am up train to Flinders Street just absolutely JOYED us and no doubt many “others” standing on the somewhat am crowded Yarraville Station platform.
“Try to Be a Rainbow in some-ones Life to-day”.
Steve Gauci – you have been over years and continue to be a SPECIAL human being.
If ever Steve they make a version 2 of the winner of (6) six academy awards film titled made in 1942 – Mrs Miniver – the role of the station master loved by ALL – in this movie – will be of your OWNERSHIP.
You would be respected and adored.