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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Megan Doherty

Meet the Canberra/Queanbeyan bus company that is like a mini-United Nations

The Canberra company that is a Mini-United Nations

They have come from everywhere - from Germany to Ghana; Samoa to Scotland; Norway to Nepal.

And they all ended up in the Fyshwick and Queanbeyan depots of local bus company CDC Canberra, a kind of mini-United Nations.

The company employs more than 220 people from across more than 40 nations.

So, it is fitting as the 2023 National Multicultural Festival starts in Canberra on Friday, CDC Canberra will be running the free shuttle buses for the three-day festival.

It's a company, like Australia, that has naturally evolved into a community of many nationalities, religions, beliefs and backgrounds but which works harmoniously.

CDC Canberra workers in front of the company's new double-decker bus (l-r) Yembeh Mansaray, Michael Salvador, Anita Hewitt, Nora Kalolo, Fala Faatamala, Steve Hadley, Ray Wand, Paea'i Sankey, Mathew Thomas, Kin Wo Ip, Chris D'Silva, Mohammad Chowdhury and (front) David Gosling and Bimal Gunawardana. Picture by Elesa Kurtz

The staff work on urban, school and charter bus services from the Queanbeyan depot or special needs school bus services from the Fyshwick depot.

Mohammad Chowdhury, originally from Bangladesh and of Islamic faith, says the company gives him time to practice his Friday prayers and also makes sure the food at the staff barbecues is halal.

Mohammad has also organised all-vegetarian options for the BBQs. "We want to make sure everyone can join in," he said.

CDC Canberra workers Peter Maring (Uganda) and Punnia Krishnamoorthi (Sri Lanka). Picture supplied

Born in South Sudan, Peter Maring grew up in Uganda and moved to Australia when he was seven.

The 22-year-old, who has just completed his nursing degree, is a carer at CDC Canberra's Fyshwick depot, where he supports special needs students who take the bus to and from school.

"There's a lot of different cultures here and we all work together," he said.

Paea'i Sankey, originally from Samoa, drives the school buses. Her husband, sister and niece also work for CDC Canberra. She feels like she "fits in really well".

"In some workplaces it's hard to fit in, you might be good at the job but you don't fit in. Everyone here is really nice and it's great to come to work," she said.

Part-time bus driver Kin Wo Ip is from Hong Kong where he worked as a station manager.

Paea'i Sankey, originally from Samoa, drives the school buses. Picture by Steven Kryger

After he retired from his job, he migrated to Australia in 2014 to help look after his two granddaughters.

His new job as a bus driver at CDC is a nice continuation of his previous working life.

"I continue this job to take care of people, the Australian people are very nice and here there are all kinds of multicultural people. We can learn much from each other," he said.

  • Details about road closures for the National Multicultural Festival are here.
  • A map for the free shuttle buses is here.
  • The shuttle bus services will run Friday (5.30pm to 11.30 pm), Saturday (9am to 11.30pm) and Sunday (9am to 5.30pm)
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