life-style, christmas,
‘Tis the season to be jolly and there was few jollier than the driver on ACTION bus 678 driving around Gungahlin on Thursday. In fact throughout December, leading to Christmas Day, ACTION driver Michael Hoare has been revelling in yuletide spirit. He’s donned the red coat, beard, hat and boots, channelling Santa since December 1, also decorating the bus he drives each day. He drives a different bus pretty much every day which means a lot of re-decorating but Michael is happy to do it. All because he loves Christmas and loves his job. And knows how hard this year has been for so many. “I do it every year, but this year I’ve gone a little bit more. I’ve gone full Santa this year,” he said. “COVID-19 and all the hard times this year, it’s good to bring some joy to people.” Canberra-born and now living in Moncrieff, Michael, 30, has been a bus driver for just over eight years. “I was probably the youngest in the service when I started,” he said. He usually drives the Gungahlin routes 26, 25, 20 and 8. Passengers get out a real kick out of seeing Santa driving the bus. “They love it,” Michael said. “They’re all like, ‘Wow!’. I’ve had a few take photos and stuff.” Christmas is one of his favourite times of the year. “Love Christmas,” he said. “Wasn’t that way when I worked in retail at Kmart for five years. Christmas lay-bys. No.” Even if the Santa suit is not ideal for summer. “It does get really hot.” Michael’s now in his perfect job. “I love buses. Have done since I was eight-years-old,” he said. “The hours are great. I start at 2.50pm and finish about 1am, which suits me because I’m not a morning person.” Michael does get Christmas and Boxing Day off this year and will be spending the time with his father Brian. Transport Canberra is also offering Canberrans a little present on Christmas Day. All public transport is free on December 25, including the light rail. On public holidays – Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – light rail will run to a Sunday frequency of every 15 minutes from 8am to 11pm. Buses also operate to a summer timetable.
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‘Tis the season to be jolly and there was few jollier than the driver on ACTION bus 678 driving around Gungahlin on Thursday.
In fact throughout December, leading to Christmas Day, ACTION driver Michael Hoare has been revelling in yuletide spirit.
He’s donned the red coat, beard, hat and boots, channelling Santa since December 1, also decorating the bus he drives each day.
He drives a different bus pretty much every day which means a lot of re-decorating but Michael is happy to do it.
All because he loves Christmas and loves his job. And knows how hard this year has been for so many.
“I do it every year, but this year I’ve gone a little bit more. I’ve gone full Santa this year,” he said.
ACTION bus driver Michael Hoare’s favourite time of the year is Christmas. Picture:Sitthixay Ditthavong
“COVID-19 and all the hard times this year, it’s good to bring some joy to people.”
Canberra-born and now living in Moncrieff, Michael, 30, has been a bus driver for just over eight years.
“I was probably the youngest in the service when I started,” he said.
He usually drives the Gungahlin routes 26, 25, 20 and 8.
Passengers get out a real kick out of seeing Santa driving the bus.
Passengers get a kick out of seeing Santa driving their local bus. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
“They love it,” Michael said.
“They’re all like, ‘Wow!’. I’ve had a few take photos and stuff.”
Christmas is one of his favourite times of the year.
“Love Christmas,” he said.
“Wasn’t that way when I worked in retail at Kmart for five years. Christmas lay-bys. No.”
Even if the Santa suit is not ideal for summer. “It does get really hot.”
Michael’s now in his perfect job.
“I love buses. Have done since I was eight-years-old,” he said.
“The hours are great. I start at 2.50pm and finish about 1am, which suits me because I’m not a morning person.”
Michael does get Christmas and Boxing Day off this year and will be spending the time with his father Brian.
Transport Canberra is also offering Canberrans a little present on Christmas Day.
All public transport is free on December 25, including the light rail.
On public holidays – Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – light rail will run to a Sunday frequency of every 15 minutes from 8am to 11pm. Buses also operate to a summer timetable.
