ABC #403

IGNITION
FABIAN COTTER
The Energy Within
With bus use back on the rise, let’s hope it stays that way.
Catching a local bus recently after
many, many years, I must confess
was a weirdly beautiful reminder
of how unexpectedly enriching
and soul-lifting such an experience can be.
Seriously…
I know that sounds abundantly
contradictory, even to many of us in the
bus industry and public-transport worlds,
but I was recently reminded of one of
the underlying strengths of the bus-travel
experience: conversation with people.
Not all people, of course, as who you get
stuck with on a trip could ruin your day
and cause untold psychological damage
for years to come, no doubt, but get a good
one where the courtesy, respect and banter
imparts positive vibes and you’ll often find
you walk away with much more ‘good value’
than the original ticket price.
“She’s gone to a better place,” this
grey-haired older lady said. “Her energy has
gone back to the source.”
I was catching the bus as I was staying
back with my poor dad after my wonderfully
amazing, loving and soul-enriching mum
passed away a few weeks ago. At 87 and still
quick witted and agile, loving the odd pub
meat raffle, small pokies flutter or music
show at the local with dad on weekends, my
retired nursing sister and sports-loving mum,
Dulcie, heard ‘the call of God’ in the wee
hours of March 5. And her family and friends
are all massively the lesser for it.
It’s a long story, but the conversation
while waiting for the bus soon turned
to things of a philosophical and spiritual
nature, highlighted by talk of out-of-body
experiences and astral travelling. What?!?
Now, I was sure I had had those in life after
the odd big night out, but this lady was
adamant our souls existed and through
trance-like meditation we can ‘leave’ our
bodies. Wha…?
Crazy talk for sure - normally, but right
about now I was all ears as knowing my
retired nursing sister and angelic-natured
mum, always (disturbingly) concerned with
the welfare of others and helping where
possible – was amongst some source of
greater good now. We hear what we need
to hear, I guess. And I’m telling you now, I
needed this.
“Get really tired, darken the room, lay flat
by yourself, imagine drawing blue light
slowly outlining your body, concentrate on
the silence until you ‘hear it’ and the silence
becomes louder, focus intense, hear your
pulse loudening like beating jungle drums
and ‘feel’ it … until it stops ... and you feel
yourself – your energy, your being – rise,” she
explained, in a somewhat Dummies Guide
To... supreme spirituality, I guess. Dunno.
I told her I’d ‘look into it’ once the world
went back to making a bit more sense,
but in the least I was grateful for waiting to
catch the bus and having such a different
chat with a good-natured stranger.
FREE TICKETS
Well, it sounded good in theory for
domestic tourism when the Australian
federal government started offering
passengers discounted flights to certain
destinations. The aim was to give the local
economies there a bit of help. Sweet! Well, if
you are one of the nominated destinations
that is, but it has irked many in other areas
who have seen themselves as ‘missing out’.
Really? Take a ticket and get back in the
queue!
If anything, when it comes to missing out,
I couldn’t help feel the collective pain of
our struggling long-distance coach tourism
sector, whose obvious road-based business
models means they aren’t included in any
form of incentivised travel help, and if they
were, it would be too late for many anyway.
That is, the greatest win would have been to
get people onto coaches during the height
of the crisis last year when domestic flying
was more of a no-no, but alas it seems that
window has now closed. A shame.
CONTENTS AND MORE
This month, in Issue 403 of ABC magazine,
it’s finally here: our world exclusive test drive
of the Custom Denning Element e-bus!
This was Custom owner Scott Dunn’s
e-bus vision for the still relatively recently
purchased Custom Bus Group and even
more recently acquired iconic Queensland-based
Denning bus-making entity.
That synergy had both its supporters
and detractors, given the each company’s
distinct storied histories within the very
fabric of the Australian bus-making scene.
However, fast forward to now, early 2021
and the Custom Denning Element is
poised to tackle the EV transition for the
benefit of both companies, both locally
and we hear in the UK, too. Read our
review on pages 32–38.
Also inside, we visit the NSW north
coast’s Tinonee Bus Company in the Taree
area. It’s a great tale of two mates and
business partners who moved from Moree
to Taree to run a bus company – and who
are already expanding their bus business.
Check that one out on pages 40–46.
Clearly ‘in focus’ this issue during
International Women’s Week 2021, we
highlight some great initiatives from
Transdev Australiasia, while also having
a look-see at the Busways’ NSW Coff
Harbour e-bus trial of a Yutong E12,
recently.
While some will say a trial is a trial is
a trial, they do so foolishly; the key to
successful e-bus fleet transitions will
mean operators looking at their own
requirements on a case-by-case basis, with
relative parity to trials based on like-for-like
regional considerations and charging
capacities proving crucial - rather than just
relying on one model’ or city’s trial.
In terms of news, Volgren’s restructure
in Queensland was a very interesting
one this past month and with possible
job losses on the cards these things are
never great times for those affected.
However, insiders confirm there are already
plans afoot to ensure those workers are
absorbed elsewhere and/or are well placed
to get new jobs at another state-based
company also – technically in the bus
field. Regardless, hopefully things there
will work out for all parties involved, if and
when such measures unfold.
February deliveries data? Looking stable!
And finally there’s a mini preview on
pages 48-50 of the 2021 QBIC Conference.
Given the debacle of 2020, this first
belated Aussie bus event promises to be
great if for no other reason than we get
to hang out and chat mindless stuff into
the wee hours like real normal humans
(remember that?), over a vino or two.
In the grand scheme of things these
simple bonding moments could prove
more valuable than ever.
Until the next thrilling instalment...
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ABC March 2021 busnews.com.au