Two bus drivers from the region are being celebrated for going the “extra mile” in ensuring a safe trip for their passengers, whether to and from school or around the Coast.
Pamela Hardy and Leasa Diggins are both finalists in the 2024 Queensland Bus Driver of the Year Awards.
There were narrowed down from 1860 nominations – the most received since 2018 – to a group of just nine finalists across three categories.
Ms Hardy, who drives for Kinetic Sunshine Coast, is nominated for South East Queensland Bus Driver of the Year.
Ms Diggins is the owner and operator of the school bus that services Kin Kin State School and is up for School Bus Driver of the Year.
Ms Hardy became a bus driver through Kinetic’s Women Up Front program and said driving was “in her blood”.
“My father is a truck driver, my grandfather and my uncle are both bus drivers and tram drivers … and I thought I want to be a bus driver,” she said.
“One of my favourite things about being a bus driver is being able to be within the community.
“I’m able to interact with people from all different backgrounds and I’m able to learn different languages, such as from the hearing impaired.
“I’ve been able to learn how to say ‘thank you’ quite often on the bus, which has been very humbling.”
Ms Diggins has been driving the Kin Kin school bus for six years and says it was a “full circle moment” after catching the same bus as a child.
“I’ve been a local here all my life and I used to go to Kin Kin school when I was a child,” she said.
“My driver is who I bought the bus run off. When he wanted to retire, he offered it to me.”
Ms Diggins said she drives a 90-kilometre return trip each day and loves her role.
“The word I use to describe being a bus driver is ‘joy’ – it brings me a lot of joy.
“The kids make my day, hearing their stories and watching them grow up.”
With voting now open, acting head of Translink Peter Milward said the awards were an opportunity to celebrate the drivers who goes that extra mile every day for their passengers.
“The role our local bus drivers play in keeping our communities moving is essential,” he said.
“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.
“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.”
Voting is open until March 14, with the winner of each category to be announced at the annual Queensland Bus Industry Council conference on April 6.
For more information and to vote visit the Translink website.
Local journalists supporting local people. Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our FREE daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email at the bottom of this article.
