busnews.com.au May 2018 ABC^7Have no fear! It can happen anywhere. In any
city or town. At any time. We just need to be
ready for such as best possible, with whatever
reliable and useful technology we have. Indeed,
it’s time to start Googling what’s out there.
In this issue of ABC magazine we have
some solid news reports for you affecting our
industry locally, internationally and ... for all we
know, spiritually.
The protest against the Melbourne Metro
Bus contracts got underway on the steps of the
Victorian Parliament House recently, gathering
200-odd busies keen to voice their concern,
while VW and Hino have entered into a massive
strategic partnership – big news! Though my
German is a little rusty, my sources within them
direct from overseas allude to very exciting
times ahead.
Now, Volgren’s doing some great things as of
late, investing back into its Brisbane outlet with
more staff to meet local bus-building demand,
plus taking out the 2018 NSW Supplier of the
Year Award at the recent BusNSW Members
Conference. Nice!
Speaking of which, we bring you all the
highlights from that great event held at
the Hunter Valley, which covered a range
of hot topics like on-demand bus services,
autonomous vehicles and where we are
headed. And, at one point, we were talking
about workplace safety and ...Van Halen? True
story. It was so intense I was expecting Eddy
Van Halen and David Lee Roth themselves to
pop out from somewhere and start rocking
out on the mini-stage in cardboard cut-out
bus costumes. Yep, don’t let anyone ever tell ya
‘we’ bus people aren’t cool. Just say ‘Van Halen,
baby!’ – and walk away.
In terms of driving, Paul Aldridge is in
his childhood element testing a way-cool,
old-school Mercedes-Benz O305 out in the wet
while visiting the lovely folk at the iconic Sydney
Bus Museum, recently.
Plus we sus out the latest diesel and driveline
happenings in our Engines and Transmissions
Guide – which we leisurely put together over
weeks and weeks of free time while sipping
teas casually with our little pinky fingers
pitchforked up and everything. Not!
It was ‘Battle Stations!’ all ‘round, ‘pistols at
dawn’ and ‘handbags at the ready’ as we raced
to get this issue to you, hot off the press! Yep,
that’s how much we love you. :)
Finally, don’t forget to check out our
world-famous Classifieds section, and our
legendary website http://www.busnews.com.au
and, if you are lucky, you might just snag a
cheeky peek at yourself on our backpage
pictorial this month.
Other than that, trust me, I’m off to bed.
Until the next thrilling instalment...
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