If you thought you saw a fox driving the heritage train from Castlemaine to Maldon last Monday – don’t worry, you weren’t hallucinating!
A sweet, intelligent and enthusiastic bloke called Voksy Daeche was taking part in a special driver experience for his 30th birthday – dressed in his fox suit.
Voksy told the Express that he was on the autism spectrum and had always been interested in the idea of dressing up as a furry creature. So, 10 years ago, he ordered a fox suit, which arrived shortly before the unexpected death of his father and a horrific assault that occurred a week later.
Voksy, who has been diagnosed with complex PTSD, said he did not identify as a furry (a subculture of people interested in anthropomorphic animals, often creating their own animal characters, which is increasing in popularity). “I’m just me,” he said.
“My fox has basically been my support animal for the past 10 years.
“He is absolutely my world, because without him I wouldn’t be here.
“He’s been with me through a lot of stuff and become my unofficial mascot with my business. He’s a very special animal.”
Riding in the train with Voksy were a host of special guests; friends and family who had travelled over from Cranbourne and even Voksy’s psychiatrist!
On the return journey, Voksy who is a regular local busker, performed in a carriage with his fellow musicians.
The driver experience was a present from Voksy’s housemate and friend Max Coxhead, who was a bit taken aback when he first saw the suit.
“We started chatting and I said, ‘I look forward to meeting the man behind the mask,” Max said.
When he learned that Voksy was having difficulties with housing, Max invited him to stay with him for a few days until he could ‘get himself sorted’.
“A year and a half later, he’s now sorted in one of my bedrooms,” Max said.
“It’s nice to have the company. I had stage four prostate cancer, and he has run me around from time to time and I ended up with chemo brain, so having him there was great.”
Fortunately, Max is now cancer free, allowing him and Voksy the time to enjoy their mutual love of wine.
Max, a former VGR director who funded and helped to restore carriages, helped Voksy build his confidence and start his own chauffeur business, Flying Fox Chauffeur.
“He’s been building a client base and he’s having a ball. He’s got a Lexus and he loves driving. He’s the penultimate chauffeur and an amazing man,” he said.
