First Cab off the Rank

A spring in our step

Spring is important to all of our cabbies. Not only is it the second best time to be on the Sunshine Coast (running a close second to summer), it also marks the official end of our quiet period for taxis.

We have worked hard over the past few months to try and get ourselves in the best possible position to handle our extreme peaks and so far the report card seems to be fairly positive.

We are not silly enough to think that we can meet everyone’s demands every time, but we try hard to!

Our new app has proven to be a game changer in peak times. Usage in the 10pm Saturday to 2am Sunday has increased by nearly 400 per cent and complaints have fallen by a similar percentage.

The best part is the waiting – inside with another drink or a coffee is far more civilised than standing on a footpath with no idea whether the cab will be five minutes or 35 minutes.

The app enables to you walk out as the cab is coming up the road!

We only get better if you tell us what needs to be improved - I’d love to hear from you. ca

The funny thing is, the wait times are similar (and yes, we are working on them), the difference is the quality of the wait. People who book on the app can see exactly where they are, get notified when a cab takes the job, access a quote, and entering the destination will also ensure the shortest route is taken by the driver!

Download the App now!

John Lobwein has extensive experience in the Taxi industry in Australia. Having worked in the Finance and Credit fields for more than a decade, John changed industries in 1996, having held a taxi licence since 1989. Firstly as a taxi owner driver, John found more challenges lay ahead in the management arena. Taking on the role of Managing Director of the largest taxi company in North Queensland at the age of 34, John quickly established the largest serviced taxi area in Australia. After nearly a decade, John moved to Suncoast Cabs where he has continued to improve his knowledge of the taxi industry whilst moving the company into a solid financial position. 5441 8899 // cc@suncoastcabs.com.au

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BM Launch Business Matters advertisers and readers got together to enjoy the launch of issue 74 at Open House Kawana. The food, atmosphere and service were all second to none.

Guest judge Amanda Parer 2015

Glamourous Guests, Local Finalist Anna Rubin & Ant McKenna

Julie-Ann Fenwick-Symons & George Symons ( Julie-Ann Boutique)

Jodie Chapman (Advanced

Wellness & Behavioral Centre), Angel Miles(RACQ Care Flight), Roz White(White’s IGA Group)

Local Finalist Rex BackhausSmith and Judith Laws

VIPs preview the Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2D exhibition

The media were invited to join Mayor Mark Jamieson, partners and sponsors for a special VIP preview of the 2015 Sunshine Coast Art Prize Two Dimensional Award at Caloundra Regional Gallery on Wednesday, August 19. Forty finalists were vying to win a $15,000 cash prize and $5000 artist residency at Montville Country Cabins. There was also a Highly Commended $5000 cash prize award sponsored by the Proost De Deyne family and the People’s Choice artist received a $2500 cash prize sponsored by the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce.

Modern transmissions and why you should care!

I remember when front wheel drive cars were only a small percentage of car sales and ‘the real drivers’ would prefer a rear drive car. Look at us now, the rear drive cars are the smaller percentage of cars sold today. So whatever the car manufacturers make, we will buy, and they dictate what the car fleet will look like out on today’s roadways.

Why did it all change? The front drive car has a compact power train and is far more cost effective to produce. There is no change in direction friction loss from the crankshaft to the front wheels such as in a rear drive car and that equates to a fuel saving with a front drive package.

The next wave is dual clutch transmissions and while they have had a few teething problems which shows up as jolts and bumpy gear shifts, they are pretty much sorted now. They may be called D.S.G. (direct shift gear) or D.C.T. (dual clutch transmission) and they are basically automated manual transmissions with either a dry or wet computer controlled input clutch as part of the flywheel.

The whole system is computer controlled and hydraulically operated with transmissions generally lasting 100-200,000 kilometres. As you can imagine, repairs are expensive ($5,000-$10,000) with a huge liability for the repairer or dealer. The secret to extending the working life of this new wave of transmissions is yearly or biannual transmission oil change. C.V.T. (constantly variable transmission) also benefit from regular servicing or will suffer the same fate as above.

‘Take transmission maintenance into your own hands’ and forget ‘sealed for life’ nonsense if long term ownership is what you want.

Ron and Dell Hill

Thomas O’Leary working on an overhaul of a late model ‘Landrover Discovery’ failed due to lack of transmission servicing.

From the workshop

Hi, my name is Thomas. I was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast and I’m a loving husband and father of two. Growing up, what started out as tinkering with old mowers and tractors soon developed into a passion for cars. In my spare time, I am adding the finishing touches to my AE71 Toyota Corolla which I have spent the last seven years rebuilding into a drift car. I hope to have it out on the track in no time.

I started my apprenticeship here at Ron Hill Automatics in 2008 and am now a fully qualified mechanic. I have enjoyed working here due to the people and also the challenges that the job brings which in turn leads to further learning. The great thing at Ron Hill Automatics is we attend yearly seminars which keep us all up to date with new advancements in the Automatic Transmission Industry.

The automatic transmission is very much forgotten when it comes to vehicle maintenance which can lead to premature wear of the gearbox and very costly repair bills. It is very important to do regular servicing on your transmission or these breakdowns could happen to you. We recommend service intervals of 20,000km, or every twelve months.

Sandra and Bill’s BM OFFER

FREE CAR WASH

with every 4WD Transmission Service*

*Mention this Business Matters article to redeem offer

Owners Bill and Sandra Olah

SUPPORTING LOCAL GR0WERS AND PRODUCERS FOR OVER 22 YEARS!

Fresh Flowers

$20 a bunch

Today Robertson Flower Farm has a strong reputation for quality cut flowers Australia wide, for growing Asiatic and Oriental Lilies, Gladiolus, Celosia and Sunflowers.

Asiatic Lilies are unperfumed and come in white, cream, yellow, orange, pink and red. Oriental Lilies compared with Asiatics have large exotic blooms and a strong sweet perfume. They come in white, pink and yellow.

In the Chinese language, Lily symbolises ‘being forever in love’.

The name Gladiolus comes from Latin and refers to ‘sword’. The flower itself is sometimes called Sword Lily. These beauties come in white, pink, salmon, yellow, purple, red, orange and green. Glads are also associated with fortieth wedding anniversary

Because of their bright yellow colour, Sunflowers are the happiest of the flowers. Facing the sunrise, they symbolise loyalty and longevity.

$8 per dozen

Nomadic Pastured Chook Eggs

Walker Farm Foods located in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland at Cambroon ten kilometres from Kenilworth and 28 kilometres from Maleny.

So what does ‘Nomadic Pastured’ mean? Well, very simply our animals are free to move!

The laying hens are free to roam in paddocks on our farm. They are allowed to eat as much fresh grass as possible. The ‘girls’ live in either a ‘Chicken Caravan’ or a converted caravan which houses their laying boxes or roosts. The hens are allowed to eat whatever takes their fancy from ad lib grain to shell grit. Their food is custom formulated to be free of artificial yolk colorants, and other nasties such as steroids and antibiotics. The eggs are sold as a mixed dozen, so some small and some large, weighing in total 650g.

Strawberries!

The Stothart family has been growing strawberries for over 40 years, starting with 2,500 plants and growing to 800,000 plants over fifty acres today.

The Bosma family (BFresh owner/ operators) came to know of the Stotharts when living around the corner from them about 25 years ago. Anthony Bosma has memories of his dad loading up boxes of strawberries and distributing them to local businesses down Morayfield way. This was just the beginning.

With the opening of BFresh twenty years ago and each strawberry season since, the Stothart farm in Bellmere, west of Caboolture, has always been our first choice for strawberries for our customers.

This season the quality of berries is at a premium, with the weather conditions perfect for producing sweet juicy fruit. If you’re like the team at BFresh you’d better grab a second punnet, as the first one doesn’t make it home. a