Member for Bega Andrew Constance and Sapphire Coast Buslines owner Jamie Klemm officially celebrate the company’s rebranding on Friday.
UNDER a breaking blue-green wave, a new direction in local bus travel was launched on Friday.
Sapphire Coast Buslines, based at South Pambula, is the new look and name for what was previously Deane's Bus Service South Coast.
Helping owners Jamie and Anton Klemm officially launch their new-look, rebranded school bus and coach service was Member for Bega Andrew Constance.
Also in attendance were Bega Valley Shire Mayor Bill Taylor, John Aveyard from the Mumbulla Foundation and officials from BusNSW among many other supportive business and community representatives.
Former Tathra Bus Service owners John and Janny Daly, as well as their general manager for the past 10 years Paul Pincini, also joined in the celebration – and were particularly acknowledged by Ms Klemm during her speech.
“We are very grateful John and Janny have enabled us to move into the Tathra and Bega area,” Ms Klemm said.
“And we wish them all the best and success for the future.”
It has been a busy couple of months for the Klemms.
The official rebranding to Sapphire Coast Buslines - with associated livery for their fleet of 40 buses - comes on the back of the sale of Tathra Bus Service to their family company, Deane's Bus Lines South Coast, and then the sale of Deane's' Queanbeyan-based business necessitating the name change.
The Klemms were particularly keen to strengthen their ties to the local community and believed the new name reflected that commitment.
“Sapphire Coast is the way the community is trying to present itself to bring tourism into the region - having the bus company with that same brand seemed fitting,” Ms Klemm said.
In officially welcoming the announcement, Mr Constance acknowledged the Klemms' “key provision” of community services.
“It's a fantastic story that Jamie and Anton have come to this area to take on a business challenge and have made it grow,” he said.
“It also please me no end to see Jamie involved in a whole raft of community events and disability services right across the community.”
Mr Constance also praised their “leadership and innovation” adding they were a “great employer for our region”.
“Like many in country towns, Jamie and Anton provide more than just a bus service,” he said.
“Their drivers do a wonderful job of protecting the welfare of our children and I'd particularly like to acknowledge the staff - Jamie and Anton are blessed in that regard.”
Tathra couple farewell business
FORMER Tathra Bus Service owners John and Janny Daly were in attendance to help launch Sapphire Coast Buslines on Friday.
The new-look school bus and tourist coach service is the rebranded Deane's Buses – the company that only recently bought the Dalys' service, an institution in local school routes for the past 31 years.
Janny recalled a small company with three school buses over 30 years ago growing into the fleet of nine they sold to the Klemms recently.
Janny was a teacher as well as bus driver, working in the library at St Patrick's for around 25 years.
She would drive the children to school, park the bus in Belmore St and head inside along with the pupils.
Eventually she was driving – and teaching – the kids of those first schoolchildren.
“I loved it, I loved doing it,” Janny said.
“We will miss it madly - for a time.
“I'll miss the kids.
“It has been a lovely time, but it's time for the younger ones to move in and take up the responsibility.”
As for the Dalys, they plan on keeping busy with their beef cattle “hobby farm” said John, and according to Janny are planning to continue their travelling ways – overseas rather than on local buses though.