Somehow, I came into my industry 35 years ago.
When I finished High School, I went looking for a career that I would hopefully fall in love with. This was 1990 when considering a career change every so often was not common practice. Until this point, my interaction with the bus industry was school camps and excursions. I obtained my heavy vehicle license just after coming off my P plates, and thought I would give commercial driving a go. The thirteenth door I knocked on became my first employer and greatest mentor, a Melbourne bus operator named Daryl Driver. The family operation taught me many aspects of the bus industry that I still employ daily in my own business.
Quite a few years later I took a position with AATKings in the Northern Territory. More specifically Ayers Rock Resort, and that was to be my home for the next four years. Living in a town of less than 1000 people, not including the guests to the area, and relying on each other daily presented another set of life lessons. Our nearest hamburger shop/fast food outlet was five hours drive. It was a day trip just to have lunch.
At the end of my time in Central Australia I moved to Sydney. Here, I met the team at Glenorie Coaches and spent the next six plus years learning about the local side of the industry.
Then the pandemic hit. You can imagine there was not a lot of work for tour coach drivers during that time, so I started to study and do all my legal and government requirements to start my own coach business. Having got my government accreditation, which is a legal requirement to run a bus/coach business in Australia, I turned my attention to driving people to witness this great country of ours.
A common thread through my journey has been the amazing people I have gotten to meet while exploring our country. Everyone has a story, from young to old.
One of my earliest lessons was if people get on with a smile and get off with a smile then you’ve done your job. Whether it be a day trip or a few weeks away, my trusted coach and I are ready for what lies ahead. After all, I’m just the facilitator of what is hopefully a fun day(s) for those in my care.
