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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1990-07-04, Page 7Bus driver recalls 40 years behind wheel BY SUSAN OXFORD Forty years ago Tom Wilbee started driving school bus and since then he's seen changes in the buses, school systems and the students themselves. In 1949 Mr. Wilbee started dovi school bus with a company owned by Scott Habkirk. 'Seat company was taken over by Les after Scott died. The school bus line acnalgamatod and bec;rune United Trails and laser was purchased by present owners Mur- phy Buslines. In 1949 only students attending Scaforth High School were picked up by bus. Mr. Wilbee remembers that "Farm kids then boarded with families in town while they went to high school. Some farm kids didn't continue with school past grade eight. To pick up farm kids going to high school my route could reach up to 55 miles, one way." "I'd start driving at 7:20 am. just to get the kids to school by 9:00 a.m. The old buses were orange and black, like now, but they didn't have radios or very good heaters. In winter the kids would bundle -up for the ride and 1 had to wear heavy gloves." "Winter snow storms were a lot worse back then," Mr. Wilbee said "We worked regardless of weather conditions and got the buses stuck many times. The roadworks people would come out and pull us out and often a farmer would clear a trail on the road for the schoolbus." "Once, in McKillop township, the bus I was driving got stuck in a snowstorm and me and the forty passengers 1 had went to a farmhouse. The farm wife made hot chocolate for all of us and we stayed there until help came." Mr. Wilbee remembers that the spring breakup would make driving New service offers full telephone access BY PAUL RUDAN A new and free telephone service will provide easier acre -tis infori- mation regarding the uron County services availab o seniors and physically disc ed adults. The servi , launched last week by the Huron ounty Health Unit, will allow niors, physically disabled adults, amity members or those who work with such people, to call a telephone number, talk to an operator and be provided with a list of the appropriate and available care services. The phone numbers are 482-5666 or toll free at 1-800-267-0535. Service users can learn which doctors make house calls, phar- macies that deliver, who can provide care, food or help and a host of other programs and services available in the county. Callers will also be told if the services arc free, there is a cost or if a cost is tied to the need. Ontario is in the midst of long term care reform and people are staying in their community as long as possible, said the county's Medical Officer of Health Dr. Maarten Bokhout. "... "knowing which services are available is important," he stressed. Dr. Bokhout added that because of the growing number of services, the key element is improving the information for seniors and the disabled. Operators are able to access this wide range of information from a computer database. The database was built over the past five months and it includes information on programs available from the provin- cial and federal goy- nts. "it would he • tt considerably if people would start calling us right away. By responding to people's requests; we will soon find out if we have all of the programs in our database," said program coordinator Beverley Brown. Mrs. Brown pointed out that they will keep track of the calls to find out how useful the service is and who is using the numbers. "You don't have to be a senior or disabled to use this service," she reminded. Funding for the program was made available by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Six ial Services. The set up cost was approximately S40,000, while the ongoing cots is expected to be $127.000. The service is subject to review by the ministry. OFF THE ROAD - Tom Wibee stands beside one of the school buses he drove over the past 40 years. Oxford photo. difficult too. "The roads weren't as Mr. Wilbee recalls his first bus good as they are now." didn't have alternate or flashing Safety features and rules have lights. "We had to tell the kids to TRACTOR WINNER - Grand prize winner of the Tractor Elimination Draw. From left: Lyle Haney, Seatorth Agricultural Society president; Murray Hoy; Bob Hoy; Mac Hoy, winner. Oxford photo. 4 LAWNMOWER WINNER - Second prize winner of the Tractor f lamination Draw From left Don Mac Gregor, winner; Lome Glanville, Seaforth Agricultural Society associate Oxford photo come u110 effect over the years and waic:h the wad before rutuung onto them. 1 don't know bow some of those lulls lived with thou running Ynso the road." About 1962 Bertin# for bus drivers cam into effect with the Ministry of T ansportatixo and Mr. Wilbee, and his bellow ser or seven eniptoyees, went to Chaim to be tested. "Of course we all passed." As far as the bus drivers went, Mr. Wilbee remembers a different attitude in the old days. He said there wasn't "A union attitude and we willingly did an extra run at no N Pay."Once Scou sold three buses to Renfrew and teres of us drove them down with Seuti following in his cm. It was almost a two-day trip, and we didn't get paid for it or c*oct to." "Today most people won't do anything for free, or fun, anymore," said Mr. Wilbee. "It's a different world now." For Scou Habkirk Mr. Wilbee has great respect. He remembers Scott had patience, never lost his temper and put his busdrivers first. "Scott was a gem. Once, about 1961, 1 was parking a bus in the bus storage building, and it was real dart, and I didn't see Scott's brand new Nash car parked behind me. I backed right into it. Scou said 'it's alright. We'll just fix it up now."' He has fond memories of some of the kids. He remembers four or five girls from the Chiselhurst area who used to sing with a church choir. When they were on the schoolbus they would "Sing beautifully all the way home." "The kids were great and on the whole good. I never had too much trouble on the buses. I guess I was an old crab and my philosophy was 'do itmy way because it's the only way., Some of the boys, Mr. Wilbee recalls, would sit at the back of the bus \playing cards and "That was fine With- e. At least they weren't fighting th ." "Before a country schools closed the kids worked all year long to raise money for their big annual school trip in June. One way they raised money was through the Christmas play. I drove the kids on these trips to places like the Detroit Zoo and Henry Ford Museum, Niagara Falls, Toronto and the Martyr's Shrine in Midland." He's only missed one year as a busdriver, 1964, due to an accident he had while driving for the high school. "I walked between two buses, my own fault really, and got my leg crushed. I was in the hospital awhile and near missed a year of work." There have been so many changes that Mr. Wilbee said he couldn't remember them all. Some of the changes have been administrative and some of them his own. "I used to let the girls on first," Mr. Wilbee said. "Some of the boys would grumble, but I figured the boys should show some respect. THE HURON EXPOSITOR JULY 4 1990 When I was in school myself the school had separate entrances for boys and giris." "1've sees the 4;uuutry schools close. "I'ey wort all one-roon, schoolhouses and each had its owe liule school board. The elementary kids all went to their little country schools and when they were ready for high school, 1 drove them in. About 1955 all the schools went to a county -wide school board system and that was the end of the country schools." "About the time the county school board came we hired our first woman bus drivers. And they were super drivers. 1 don't think the kids ever gave them a hard time." With the county school board system came ss)fety rules for buses. The red flashing lights and stop signssigns were installed. Padded seats were , on for all passengers, radios installed. He sees most of the changes to be more safety oriented for students. "There's still a thing or two I'd like to see added," said Mr. Wilbee. "When 1 was in Florida I noticed school buses there have flashing amber lights to warn other drivers that it's slowing down. Plus they have the red flashing lights like we do to show drivers that the bus has stopped. "Our bus line has had so few accidents that it's amazing. The worst was during a winter storm and a bus went into a ditch and rolled. One of the girls onboard broke her arm. And that's the worst." He said "There's many parts of North America I wouldn't want to drive a school bus for. Mostly the big cities, though. Here, in small town Seaforth, we get to know the kids and who their families are and I prefer that." While Mr. Wilbee drove school bus he also worked at the federal building in Seaforth for 38 years as building supervisor. He only missed one of those years due to his ac- cident. He retired from that job three years ago. June 26, the last day of school, the other bus drivers and the transportation officer for the school board, Bob Cunningham, had a retirement bar-be-que party for Mr. Wilbee. They presented him with a plaque, a patio furniture and a poem by Mr. MacLean, school bus driver/poet. Reflecting back on his 40 years of service Mr. Wilbee says of the kids "I hope they liked me. I'm sure they did." West Wawanosh Mutual Insurance Company Dungannon 5294922 1-800-264-5595 Farm Protection For: FARM OWNERS - Fire and Named Perils. -Farm machinery - All external Perils, including Nqn-owned equipment. -ijvestock (named perils), Broad Form including entrapment, electrical power interruption and fumes. -Earnings Insurance. -Farm Produce - Named Perils. -Comprehensive Farm Liability including Limited Pollution Liability and Non -licensed vehicles. -Farm Auto. -Free fire iaapectioes. For quotation, please contact any of the following agents: FRANK FORAN. t,ncknow 528-3824 LYONS A MULHERN (Ooderieh 624-2884 iXONALD R. 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