Professionals Tamborine Mountain 
The buses that ferry children to and from Tamborine Mountain’s schools are often not considered as vital, and yet they keep everything moving. We see what a discussion with Chris Erickson, owner of Tamborine Mountain Coaches, can reveal about this overlooked part of mountain life.
by Kyle Hitchmough
You are the owner of the coach service on the mountain and also one of the drivers? How did you get started?
Both my wife and I own the service. We take care of all the school buses on the mountain, for the public schools and the college. Yes, I still drive. The business was purchased from a gentleman – who unfortunately passed away not long ago – in 2004. We started with 5 buses; we’ve now got 10. The mountain is growing each year.
What made you want to get into this business?
I’ve always been a mechanic, working on buses since I was 18. It’s something I’ve always loved. I was an apprentice mechanic in a trucking business in Sydney. I left there when I finished my apprenticeship and got a job as a mechanic in a bus company. It just grew from there. I still love buses and the business, the schools and the students, but I’m 72 and it’s getting time for me to retire. They are all great to work with. The parents also play a big part and I’ve always hoped that they felt comfortable approaching me with any issues or concerns. I always prefer to talk to them first if there are any issues.
Are school buses the only kind of transportation services you offer?
School runs are our major priority. We also do wedding transfers when available and other tours if required. We do give complimentary trips to the schools if they are taking the kids out somewhere as a thank you for their support, and for the work they give to us. We really appreciate them. We also donate the bus to the Blue Light Disco. There are normally four each year. We don’t pick them up and take them to the disco, but we return them home at the end of the night. That was part of the previous owner’s arrangement, and we’ve continued it on over fifteen years.
We tried public transport. People said they wanted it, and when we trialed it a few years ago it started off with the numbers then it dropped. The council paid for it, but we were only carrying three or four people a trip. There were other companies willing to try it but only if they could get the numbers. It costs around 40 dollars an hour just for a driver, plus the bus hire and the fuel… it’s not something you can do and lose money on. We are not a government-funded company. I did lend a minibus to someone to trial it for himself and he couldn’t get the numbers either. I would love the government to subsidise it and then I would do it.
The mountain roads are notoriously winding. Does that pose a difficulty for you?
No… the trees are our only obstacle the way they overhang the road. The mountain is good. It’s steep in places but if you drive carefully there should be no problems. I emphasise with my drivers just to take care and be alert. The only thing I ask of the public is, to please be careful when driving around the mountain when the school runs are in operation. We are frequently stopping and starting, and students are regularly getting on and off.
What goes into the operation of a business like this?
I drive, do the mechanic work, or I work in the office with my daughter. There’s always a lot of paperwork that needs to be completed and sent off. If something happens, I need to be on hand to get to them as quickly as possible especially if it happens during a school run. Keeping up the correct maintenance on the buses also means working on the weekends. All buses must be maintained, and they are regularly inspected every six months by Queensland Transport. I am lucky to have a good team of drivers who work well, clean their buses and check them daily, but all the mechanical work needs special looking after. I also try to help when other bus companies have breakdowns. They normally contact us, and I will assist or fix their buses for them if I can.
Are you a local? What’s your opinion of the Tamborine Mountain area?
I’ve been here for 16 years this April. It’s a good area. I keep to myself; I try not to annoy anybody I can’t afford to! There’s always someone who no matter what you do you’ll never satisfy, but as for everyone else, it’s a community, and all the people I’ve met have been good to me so I try to do the same in return. We try and be helpful here. If there’s a problem on the bus, if someone rings up and says ‘a child’s had a problem’, we chase it up as soon as we can, with the school and the child. The safety of all passengers is our biggest priority. We are not perfect, but we try our best to listen and act on all concerns and issues trying to work out the best solution for everyone involved.
What’s your favourite part about your job?
The children keep me young. I like the children. The little ones talk to you and tell you plenty of stories. When I was in Sydney, once they got into high school they didn’t want to know you. But up here, the kids are always polite, I always say good morning and goodbye and they always respond. The little kids are always good. I’ve still got a grandchild that goes to St. Bernard State School and three grandchildren that go to Tamborine Mountain State High School. So I am glad I still have the business at the moment while they are young and I get extra time with them.
It’s a good business. It’s getting bigger now, maybe a bit big for me. It is expanding, there’s more people coming and going. They come up here and think it’s a good life, and it is, but the only downside is the traveling up and down the mountain. Still, if I didn’t like it, we wouldn’t live here. I believe that it is a beautiful place to live and bring up your children.
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Or email the writer at kyle.hitchmough@hotmail.com, and follow me on Twitter @realcasualrvws.
