Translink has confirmed that the finalists have been announced for the Queensland bus driver of the year awards.
The public voting phase of the awards runs until March 14, with more than 1800 nominations narrowed down to nine.
In the three categories, there are now three finalists, with the 1860 nominations received being the most the award has gotten since its inception in 2018.
Following the extensive shortlisting process, a judging panel of industry experts selected the finalists.
In the regional bus driver of the year award, David Bussey from Whitsunday Transit (Airlie Beach), Kinetic Bundaberg’s Maurice Dezotti and John Christensen from Christensen’s Bus and Coach Kilcoy have been named as finalists.
For school bus driver of the year, owner/operator in Kin Kin Leasa Diggins joins Mark Nel from CDC Queensland (Yeppoon) and Cavbus Group’s (Beaudesert) Stuart Kneeves as finalists.
In the south east Queensland bus driver of the year award, Luluu Berns from Hornibrook Buslines (Clontarf) has been named as a finalist alongside Bus Queensland’s (Redbank) Codylee Drew and Pamela Hardy from Kinetic Sunshine Coast.
Acting head of Translink Peter Milward says the role local bus drivers play in keeping communities moving is essential.
“Bus drivers help our kids travel safely to school, they get us to work and home again, and they connect us to social gatherings and major events,” Milward says.
“The Queensland Bus Driver of the Year Awards are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the bus drivers who goes that extra mile, every day, for their passengers.
“The sheer number of nominations received demonstrates the outstanding service our bus drivers deliver in communities across Queensland.
“Congratulations to every bus driver who received a nomination and well done to the finalists for standing out in such a high-quality field.”
The winner of each category will be announced at the annual Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) conference on Saturday April 6.
Kinetic south east Queensland and north Queensland executive general manager Martin Hall congratulated the drivers on this significant achievement.
“Maurice and Pamela are both up against two other drivers in their respective categories but we truly believe they deserve to be named Queensland’s best,” Hall says.
“When you watch their videos, you can hear their pride for what they do and we are confident the public will put their support behind Pamela and Maurice.
“We are proud of their recognition and it’s no wonder they’ve made such a positive impact on their communities.”