“Just before 1987, I started doing some research into all the buildings that were turning a hundred and I found that my husband’s ancestor had actually built [what became] the railway cafe,” Mrs Cummins said.

They continued to discover family members who had called the town home – including Phil’s mother, who had lived there until age two.

With such a prominent place in the town’s history it is no surprise that the day Mrs Cummins took office as mayor was also one of note for the country.

“It was September 25, 1983 I remember I stayed up quite late because it was also the day Australia won the America’s Cup,” she said.

Including her 17 year reign as mayor, Mrs Cummins served on the Junee Shire Council for a total 33 years.

It is now difficult to pinpoint which moment in office has been her proudest.

Many have been fond. Like when the Anzac Day parade was halted on Broadway Street because a freight train cut through.

Or when school students chased a vandal out of town for graffitiing their skatepark.

Though July 9, 1993 had the most impact.

“The announcement that the roundhouse would close was made on a Thursday afternoon,” Mrs Cummins said.

“On Friday morning the town was just dead. It took the wind out of us.

“There was usually women doing their shopping in town but on that occasion there was no-one around.”

The identity of the railway town was lost along with more than 400 jobs.

But it led to the season of reinvention that Mrs Cummins describes affectionately.

“It took us a while to recover but we’re resilient,” she said.

“We realised the cavalry wasn’t coming to save us and with that we got up and did something.

“That turned out to be our catalyst to turn the town around and become what it is today.”