Article: Tom's on board for catching bus

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Tom's on board for catching bus

Tom's on board for catching bus

Kieran Banks | 20th June 2012 6:51 AM

EVERY day Brassall resident Tom Spowart walks to the bus stop and waits for the 502 service to arrive and take him into town.

This may seem like a mundane everyday task for most people, but for the 103-year-old Mr Spowart it is the only way he can keep up his active lifestyle.

Public transport is Mr Spowart's only avenue of getting around town, and he wouldn't have it any other way. "My word. I would not turn down the bus. Catching the bus is just as good as using a car," he said.

The Scotsman is known for singing during his commutes into town, has a number of songs in his repertoire, including Scotland the Brave and most popular for the bachelor is They All Got Married But Me.

His regular bus driver Gary Wood said Mr Spowart's singing gave fellow commuters a unique welcome as they boarded the bus.

"Nobody has ever complained, but if they did I would kick them off!" he joked.

"I enjoy talking to the passengers. I do have the regular passengers and we know where they get off. It makes the job a little bit more enjoyable."

He said Mr Spowart was a favourite passenger among the bus drivers.

Yesterday, Mr Spowart was given a special Go Card by Westside Bus Company general manager Paul Davies, with $103 on it and an offer to pay for all future trips to help the elder statesman of commuters continue to use buses.

"We wanted to see if we could help him use our services as long as possible," he said. Mr Spowart was learning how to use the Go Card yesterday and vowed to continue to use the buses.

[Fares_Fair]

Yesterday, Mr Spowart was given a special Go Card by Westside Bus Company general manager Paul Davies, with $103 on it and an offer to pay for all future trips to help the elder statesman of commuters continue to use buses.

What a lovely gesture on their part.