Plains Producer

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Wednesday August 24, 2011

STAR OF THE NORTH

Local traders Father’s Day competition PAGES 14 & 15

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WHAT IS IT? A flying saucer or maybe a cake to be entered in the Balaklava Show?

SEE the answer on page 7

End of the road Heartbreak as Balaklava school bus operators are latest to lose contract By Les Pearson AFTER 26 years servicing local school bus routes, there was no farewell party, no flowers, not even a thank you note. Just a brief, blunt letter was sent to school bus operators Barry Taylor and Garry Simon on Friday, advising them they had lost their local bus route contracts after the State government awarded them to a large Victoria-based company. Balaklava’s other school bus operator, Buses R Us made no comment to the Plains Producer. Riverton’s Lower North Coaches will tender for its contract next month. The Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS) elected to go to a tender process this year, allown Barry Taylor (left) and Garry Simon already have their buses on the market

Plains Producer

ing bus contractors nationwide to apply for South Australian school bus route contracts. It took all of one sentence for DECS to say after all those years, Taylor and Simon no longer were contractors for the bus routes, as of 2012. “You can’t get much blunter than that,” Mr Simon said. “After 26 years, that’s how you’re informed.” Mr Simon said the pair knew DECS was going to a tender process but believed they were a strong chance to win the contracts again. “The incumbent contractors were led to believe they had an advantage but as it’s turned out, they didn’t,” he said. n Continued Page 4

n “Help them fight the decision,” urges local MP, Steven Griffiths – Page 4

More pain for communities supporting our State

HOW much more pain can our State government inflict on country communities? This is the government that attacks our country hospitals and health system, does little to improve local infrastructure like water, power and roads – yet relies massively on billions of dollars generated by the farming sector. Real money from the farming families of kids who travel the dusty roads on our school bus fleet.

This latest attack on hard-working local business people, those who employ others, shop locally and support their communities in so many ways, is just plain disgusting. And it comes from the State government department headed by the man who is Premier-in-waiting. Jay Weatherill was in Balaklava in March to inspect our schools during the “amalgamation” fiasco. You can bet Mr Weatherill and his department chiefs

7 Days to Go! …to the biggest Country Race meeting in the state. Cancel all appointments, dust off your party clothes, study the form book, it’s time for the…

Balaklava Cup

Enjoy your day on the lawn, general entry tickets $20 at the gate. Phone 8862 1503

material handling world leader Inventor of the rough terrain forklift truck, Manitou offers today the most comprehensive range to meet all specific handling and personal lifting requirements! Sales / Rentals

W.s.B. distriBUtors 198 Main north rd, CLarE 8842 2177 phil Stanway 0419 828 802

adelaide Main north road wSB Dist.

Victoria rd

Wednesday August 31

won’t be here to explain why they are handing everything to an interstate company who will never have the local empathy of people like Barry Taylor and Garry Simon. • Tell Minister Weatherill and his faceless back room brigade what you think. Contact him at: Phone: 8226 1205. Fax: 8226 1556. E-Mail decsminedcs@sa.gov.au Post: GPO Box 778, Adelaide, SA 5001. Or go to www. decs.sa.gov.au


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