Wilba Bus back, but community angered by bus theft
Bourke’s only public bus service has resumed operations temporarily, using a hire vehicle, after the original Wilba bus was stolen and torched last week.
The crime shocked the Bourke community, already dealing with a rising rate of violent assaults and vehicle thefts.
The incident happened around 2.30am last Saturday, when the thieves broke into the bus depot on Mitchell Street and stole the Toyota HiAce van, which was found burnt out on the outskirts of town later that morning.
CEO of the Wilba Bus Service, Tsukasa Hiraoka, said she was saddened by the crime, but determined to continue to provide a vital service to her adopted hometown.
Early this week she headed to Dubbo and picked up a hire bus, which was back in service by Tuesday morning. Another hire bus will be organised in coming weeks, but Tsukasa has vowed to support her clients and keep Wilba’s wheels turning.
“The bus won’t look the same, but we wanted to get it up and running as soon as possible,” Tsukasa said.
“We’ll have full service until Thursday when we have half a day, and half a day on Friday, while I go to Dubbo to pick up the other replacement vehicle which we will have for two weeks.
“But I am on a mission to find a permanent replacement vehicle.”
“The staff are very sad and upset about what happened, but they know it is an essential service and are very keen to get back to providing a service to the community. […]
Read more in the printed edition of The Western Herald.
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