Dick Rowe

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—As a doyen of the Australian bus and coach industry, Dick Rowe has celebrating his 100th birthday. Dick started his business back in 1942 as an enterprising 18-year-old. With just one car operating a passenger service between Rooty Hill Station and Plumpton, and a hardworking service ethic, the company began as Rowes Bus Service and grew. Under Dick's guidance, then the stewardship of his sons Stephen and Richard, and today his grandson Byron, Busways is now the largest wholly-Australian-owned bus operator. At 100, Dick says he could not have imagined the changes he would see with new, safer, stronger buses and the use of technology. He says he has always tried to invest locally and repay something back to the community. Dick has been a member of the Bus & Coach Association (NSW), now BusNSW, since 1947 and served for many years on the executive. In 1984, Dick was honoured with a Certificate of Life Membership by then Bus & Coach Association (NSW) president Jim Bosnak in front of 100 industry colleagues. Happy birthday Dick and I thank you for your contribution to the industry.