Punchbowl Bus Company’s Steve Scott has taken out the flagship award at this year's BusNSW regional conference
October 11, 2012
Punchbowl Bus Company operator
Steve Scott was among a small crowd of high achievers recognised with NSW Industry Awards at the BusNSW regional conference recently.
Guest speaker, Lismore MP Thomas George presented Scott (pictured) with the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award at this year’s regional conference, held at Mudgee October 5-6.
BusNSW Executive Director Darryl Mellish says Scott, who chairs the Bus NSW employment and training committee, is a man of his word with integrity and loyalty.
“His business skills and ability to analyse situation and make important decision are at the highest level,” Mellish says.
“If there are any hard yards to be done, any negotiations with union, or any board activities the industry is involved in, he is the first man to take up the challenge.”
Scott started in the bus industry in in 1969 working for a family-owned bus business located in metropolitan Sydney.
During a long career he has held senior state and national industry positions, and currently manages about 95 buses and 180 staff members.
“Together with the support of his wife, the winner has been instrumental in the operations of family business for the last 45 years,” Mellish says.
Upon receiving the award, Scott commented on the importance of family business in the industry.
“We just hope that people here today in government realise what commitments some families here have put into the industry, and I hope it’s not the end of family business,” he says.
“I never thought I’d be up here accepting this award.”
“It’s been a good journey.”
Also presented with an award was Odgen’s Coaches, which took out the Environmental / Innovative Operator of the Year category.
Ogden’s Coaches was recognised for its
recently introduced passenger service between Wellington, Dubbo and Narromine.
“This year the award recognises efforts made by an operator to provide a number of communities with regular passenger services for the first time via a hybrid contract model,” Mellish says
“It has provided people in regional areas with access to key health, commercial, education and sporting facilities”.
Company owner and operator Eddie Ogden highlighted the effort made to introduce the service.
“We have been pioneering this service for 20 years,” Ogden says.
“It’s an achievement and relief that it has finally eventuated.”
The final award presentation, the Supplier of the Year
award, went to Mobitec-Thoreb.
Mellish says Mobitec–Thoreb provides the industry with intelligent electrical systems, signage and real time information.
“Product reliability and the after sales service levels that Mobitec–Thoreb provides to their customer’s sets a high industry standard,” Mellish says.
Bob Barwick accepted the Award on behalf of Mobitec-Thoreb.
Award winners will now be nominated to represent NSW at the national awards to be presented at the Bus Industry Confederation’s (BIC’s) annual conference at Canberra later this month.
More than 160 delegates attended the BusNSW Regional Conference held at Mudgee October 5-6.