The year Tony Reardon started driving buses in the national capital, prime minister Gough Whitlam was dismissed, the film Picnic at Hanging Rock was released, Think Big won the Melbourne Cup and actress Angelina Jolie was born. It was 1975 and 45 years later, he's still on the buses.
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The 75-year-old grandfather continues to work for Transport Canberra, with no immediate thoughts of retirement.
A bush lad at heart, Mr Reardon worked for his father Les on their sheep and cattle property Clare at Wamboin for nearly 15 years until he decided to become a bus driver, mainly for the certainty of a regular pay packet.
He started driving buses in Canberra on March 5, 1975, back in the day when the uniform was a collar and tie, coat and hat.
"I got married and things weren't good as far as the land goes. We had a baby and I thought, 'We need more of a fixed wage' and that's why I joined the buses," he said.
Shift work over the years meant he could work on weekends and spend weekdays still out on the family property helping his father.
"I've driven day and nights for at least 32 years and the last few years just day shift," he said.
"I go out to Weston at the moment on the express run. And 30s, 51s, 7s and all Belconnen at the moment."
Passengers, on the whole, have been good to him.
He had one frightening incident when a passenger became threatening, wanting to be let off among the concrete barriers when the light rail was being built near Gungahlin. He never reported it.
"I find you've got to be very diplomatic, don't be sucked into a problem. So, you treat the people like you've like to be treated yourself. I've never run into any real problems in all the time I've been there and I've driven a lot of night times.
"You see all sorts of people. You just have to be diplomatic. I've had people on the bus who've said they've just been for a holiday and the holiday was Goulburn jail."
He has received cards and little gifts from regulars over the years. Children are always polite. "They say 'thank you'. I get that a lot. It's surprising how polite most people are," he said.
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Tony and his wife Catherine live at Weetangera. They have been married for 47 years.
Life post-buses will be back working on his bush block. But, for now, he's happy driving around the growing city of Canberra.
"I enjoy my job, that's why I'm still here," he said.
Megan Doherty
I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au
I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au
