Community & Business
9 July, 2021
Tablelands bus driver retires after 30 years behind the wheel
SHE’S greeted thousands of children aboard countless school bus runs over the years but now the Tablelands’ most favourite and recognisable driver has closed the doors on a career that has spanned more than three decades. Deciding it’s time to retire Joan Comino or the ‘bus lady’ as she is affectionately known across the region drove her final Rangeview route a few days ago.
SHE’S greeted thousands of children aboard countless school bus runs over the years but now the Tablelands’ most favourite and recognisable driver has closed the doors on a career that has spanned more than three decades. Deciding it’s time to retire Joan Comino or the ‘bus lady’ as she is affectionately known across the region drove her final Rangeview route a few days ago.
However, over the next few weeks the much-loved Tablelands resident will still spend time training and familiarising the incoming driver on the bus run she’s driven since first buying the business back in July 1991. While the decision is bittersweet Ms Comino felt now is the right time to take a back seat to the region’s next generation of upcoming drivers.
“I have loved doing the driving and feel that keeping in touch with the youth of today has ensured that I have maintained a younger attitude,” Joan told The Express.
“We sold our runs to the present owners, the Emerson family in 1997 and I have enjoyed working with them – I feel that I couldn’t have asked for better bosses.
“Ernie (partner) and I have actually had a couple of goes at retirement. After we sold the buses we travelled around Australia for a few months, twice, and enjoyed being nomads.
“However, on our return there always seemed to be a need for a bus driver so we would drive again.
“This time around though – the time is right.”
After three decades behind the wheel Joan said a runaway chook takes the cake as one of her more memorable stories.
“School bus drivers often say ‘I could write a book of all the experiences we have and stories that we are told over the years’, and that is true,” Ms Comino reflected.
“One of my favourite stories to tell is the day we had a chook travel on the bus to school with us. “Our chooks used to have free reign of our property, and one morning Ernie had left the door to my bus open after he had done the safety checks - an inquisitive hen decided to then have a look around.
“The first boy boarded the bus but turned straight around to tell me there was a chook on the bus.
“It proved quite a funny trip.”
The friendly face admitted she’ll have mixed emotions when school goes back in a few days’ time and she isn’t the one picking students up.
“I have really enjoyed working with children for a large part of my working life,” she said.
“It will definitely be a strange feeling knowing school’s gone back and I haven’t taken any children to school.
“I’ve loved every bit of it though and want to thank everyone for such a wonderful career.”
Joan’s partner Ernie, also drove local bus services up until 2014.
