The New South Wales best private bus drivers have been honoured at the BusNSW Annual General Meeting held on Monday
The New South Wales best private bus drivers have been honoured at the BusNSW Annual General Meeting held on Monday February 23, at its Parramatta offices.
“The BusNSW Bus and Coach Driver of the Year Awards were established to
recognise three individuals for their outstanding contribution to the NSW Bus and Coach Industry on an annual basis,” says BusNSW Executive Director, Darryl Mellish.
The Awards are divided into three categories – the Metropolitan Bus Driver of the year, Regional and Rural Bus Driver of the year, and Coach Driver of the year.
“It is important to recognise the best drivers in our industry – those who exhibit a positive and cooperative attitude towards their passengers and always drive safely,” Mellish says
“It has been a lengthy search to find our best bus drivers for 2008, and we thank all the passengers and bus operators who participated in the nomination process, and of course our sponsor Mobitec/Thoreb for making the Awards possible.”
Andrew Baldock from Mobitec/Thoreb presented the Awards at the AGM function attended by BusNSW delegates and members.
2008 BusNSW Bus and Coach Driver of the Year Award Winners:
- The winner of the Metropolitan Bus Driver of the Year award went to Robert Stephens.
Stephens has been working with Forest Coach Lines for 35 years and is considered a quiet achiever.
“He gets the job done, has no accidents or incidents, no customer complaints and is always willing to assist,” says Philip Whipp, Business Manager of Forest Coach Lines.
Stephen’s previous honours include being selected by Forest Coach Lines management for a Driver of the Month Award in 2008, and selected by his peers, fellow drivers, as the Forest Coach Lines “Bus Driver of the Year”.
- The Regional & Rural Bus Driver of the Year Award went to Robert Sanders from Busways – North Coast.
Sanders has worked at the Busways Wauchope depot for thirteen years and drives a school bus down the steep Comboyne Mountain each morning and back in the afternoon.
“He has never had an accident and is well respected by his peers, students and their parents,” explains Robert Gilligan, Manager of Busways Wauchope depot.
Robert carries students from kindergarten to year 12, to and from four different schools, and often assists teachers when providing charter services to local schools.
- The third award, Coach Driver of the Year, went to Ian Boese.
Boese is a coach driver for Kennedy’s Bus & Coach Services and is
considered by his employer to be the ultimate professional in delivering quality customer service.“Ian is always immaculate with his personal presentation and he maintains his
vehicle to the same high standard,” says David Tagg, Manager of Kennedy’s Bus & Coach Services.“Ian’s has received many compliments from his passengers who describe him as “awesome” and “an absolute gem”,” he says.