Have you lost your bongos?
IF YOU have ever left your mobile phone on an Ipswich train or perhaps an umbrella or even a set of bongo drums then you better pick them up soon - the Roma St lost property office is overflowing.
More than 1200 items make their way to the Queensland Rail lost property office each month including the expected umbrellas, wallets, mobile phones and bags as well as many weird and wonderful items.
Queensland Rail Chief Customer Officer Cathy Heffernan said she was surprised by what items people carried on trains and the number of people who managed to leave them behind.
"We've collected a heap of unusual items in our lost property office including a stethoscope, false teeth, a television and the contents of a kitchen including cutlery, crockery, spices and an electric jug," Ms Heffernan said.
"We also collect hundreds of car keys, glasses, novels and mobile phones."
In the 2010-11 financial year, 791 mobile phones were collected or handed in to the Queensland Rail lost property office.
Of these, only 202 were collected by their owners.
"You'd think if you left behind an item of value such as a mobile phone, you'd take steps to try and find it, but many don't," Ms Heffernen said.
"Our lost property team members are always determined to reunite these treasures with their owners.
"It's very rewarding for the team when we are able to return an item to its rightful owner."
All lost items, including mobile phones, are stored for three months.
After that, sim cards and memory cards are removed and the phones are sent to public auction, while other items are donated to charities.
Queensland Rail donates all money generated through auctioning the mobile phones to various charities, several times throughout the year.
If anyone believes they've left something on a train or at a station, visit the Queensland Rail lost property office at Roma St station, or call the team on 3235 1859, Monday-Friday 7.30am-5pm.
