Looking back at February 16, 1940
Bus driver Charles Dion made one of his many appearances in court - this time for trying to help passengers living in Windang.
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According to the Mercury court report, a Road Transport Department inspector saw Charles (better known as Barney) driving passengers from Wollongong train station.
When stopped and asked where he was going, Charles said "Kiama, via the lake". Informed that was not an authorised route, Charles said "something had to be done to pick up passengers from Wollongong for Windang".
He was charged with driving an unauthorised route and found guilty, the magistrate saying it showed defiance of the Department.
In the bus company's early years, family members would be in court charged with various offences - usually timetable breaches.
But they always had the support of the locals, because the breaches were generally made to help them.
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
