Cabberra 19

ISSUE #19 MAY. 2014

VASAKHI CELEBRATION WITH THE SIKH COMMUNITY | PG. 14

PICK UP LOCATION CABSPOT 35 | PG. 08

EVENTS OF THE MONTH MOTHER’S DAY EVENTS | PG. 06

MEET THE DRIVER MEET CARLO | PG. 12

Budget week is a busy period and the perfect timeto make the most out ofevery opportunity.

FLEET NEWS 02

TRAINING ROOM 03

CTIA 04

EVENTS OF THE MONTH 06

EVENTS 07

PICKUP LOCATION 08

DVA ARTICLE 09

OUT & ABOUT 10

MEET THE DRIVER 12

NO FAULT INSURANCE 13

VASAKHI CELEBRATION 14

COMMENDABLE DRIVERS 16

Recent changes made to Mtdata dispatch zones, see issue 18 of CabBerra, have been effective with good feedback received from the fleet. The use of GPS dispatch (Crash) has benefited customer service times and my assessment is that this change has been a major success.

I have received a number of requests to expand the times when Crash is used. For example during the Easter period and other peak times when demand is high and outside the parliamentary cycle.

We are looking closely at the fleet performance numbers during these busy periods and if the data suggests customer service can be improved then we will consult on making more changes to the Crash system.

Aerial will be changing account trading terms for customers (non-taxi operators only) from July 1st 2014. We are making this change to bring our credit account terms in line with the proposed 5% service fee legislation being considered in NSW.

Our taxi operators have a 13 period 28 day trading term that is not subject to account service fees where the account is current, so these changes do not apply.

ATIA held their annual taxi conference in Perth during early April and brought a number of international speakers to talk about competitive changes based on technology used in the taxi industry, world wide. This was an excellent conference with some great take home messages. My key point of interest taken from the speeches and working discussions was the wide range of innovation and competitive flexibility already underway in Australian taxi companies who are ready and active in taking up these new challenges. Aerial is very well prepared and making many adjustments to keep pace with these issues and we welcome the challenge.

MARK BRAMSTONManaging Director Aerial Capital Group ltd

AERIAL‘S POINT OF VIEW

ISSUE #19 - MAY. 2014

Budget week is a busy period and the perfect timeto make the most out ofevery opportunity.

For any enquiries regarding the CabBerra magazine, please give us a call on 02 6126 1696 or email us at [email protected]

WELCOMECABBERRA NINETEEN - 01

FACEBOOK.COM/AERIALCG

Hello to everyone out there on the ranks. I hope all drivers and operators had an enjoyable Easter and Basakhi holiday break.

Hopefully you all had a chance to spend some time with your families. With the arrival of the cooler weather a lot of drivers have started to wear jumpers and jackets.

Please make sure that you are wearing the network approved jumpers and jackets at all times. It is important as a fleet that we present ourselves in uniform at all times to show the professional standards of the Taxi industry.

In the past month we have seen an increase in the number of complaints regarding overcharges.

In most circumstances the drivers have either failed to go the shortest agreed route or have failed to process the transaction correctly.

Please take care when processing transactions.

Always check the route with your customer and make sure if they don’t give a preference you take the shortest possible route. Overcharging of customers is extremely harmful to the Taxi industry.

Often it leads to customers not wanting to use Taxis again. It also leads to drivers having to present to the base in their own time to explain their actions and repay the overcharged amount. I think you would all agree that you would prefer to be out on the road making money not at the base trying to get to the bottom of overcharge complaints.

The second week of May will feature budget week which as most of you are aware usually produces a spike in the amount of people needing Taxis.

I know as a former night driver in the weeks leading up to the budget we use to get more jobs from government departments late at night.

This was due to government employees working back late on budget preparation. During the budget week many people from around Australia visit Canberra so please remember the importance of good customer service. We all know the best customer is a repeat customer. So let’s give them a reason to use us again.

Finally while I was away overseas I missed the Basakhi festival. I have been informed that Members of the Sikh community went to great lengths to supply Tea, Coffee and snacks to fellow drivers.

They also travelled to Aerial’s Office to give coffee and snacks to Aerial staff. Aerial would like to say thank you to those drivers for their hospitality. Stay safe and we will see you out on the ranks sometime soon!

JASON SHIELDS

NEWS

FLEET NEWS

02 - CABBERRA NINETEEN


Hi all,

In the next few issues of CabBerra I am going to focus on safe and defensive driving. For parts of this I will be getting advice from John, the gentleman who carries out the majority of the practical driving tests for the new drivers.

The first topic I think comes before everything else is attitude and state of mind. Having the right attitude towards driving and other road users is the foundation of safe driving.

I find the word temper interesting. In the past I have had major issues controlling my temper and have put a lot of work into changing that. I read somewhere that in at least one culture losing your temper is seen as a personal failing. I’m sure that most of us agree with that when we think about it. I like to think of the word temper as it relates to tempered steel, something strong, and that losing your temper is like losing that strength in yourself.

Have patience with other road users. Remember that the person driving the other car is the one making decisions on what is safe.

We have had ongoing reports of taxi drivers parking in the pickup and set down zone at the front of the Canberra Hospital, Garran.

Their decisions may be different to what you would do, and there is nothing you can do to change that. There is no use getting angry or losing our temper about things we cannot change. Having respect for other people’s decisions, even though I would do differently, has stopped me from becoming an angry driver on many occasions.

Sometimes you may be able to see that it is safe for the car in front to move into an intersection, but from where they are their line of sight may be blocked by something (another car for example) and they cannot tell if it is safe. Blowing your horn at people in this situation is only going to make things worse. Take some time to see the whole picture of what is happening around you.

Way too often I see people in a rush. I know when I was driving it always seemed that Friday afternoon was the worst for impatient drivers as everyone rushes home for the weekend.

It never ceases to amaze me that nearly every morning and afternoon when I am driving I see probably 5-10 cars driving

along behind each other at 80-90+ km/h, all much too close to each other to be safe.

If anything happened to any of these cars it would cause a major accident. Remember that tailgating one car is not going to make the 5+ cars in front of them go any faster.

Ideally we should leave a three second gap to the car in front and add another second for dangerous conditions, like wet roads, or being behind a truck where you cannot see what the traffic in front of them is doing. The bare minimum should be two seconds, and I don’t really like to mention that as two seconds doesn’t give you enough time to see the big picture of everything that is happening around you in a lot of situations.

I will leave it at that for this issue. Please take the time to think a bit about your attitude towards driving and other drivers and whether you may be able to make improvements.

Take care all.

MICHAEL CLARE

TRAINING ROOMNEWS

We’re here to look after you8am to 11pm EVERY DAY!

Shop 2, Jolimont Centre, 65 Northbourne Avenue. Canberra City Act 2600. Phone (02) 6161 1133

Taxi’s are continuing to double park and take up spaces that are designed for the patients of the Hospital who require wheelchairs. By stopping here, taxis are preventing patients from having clear and unobstructed access to the Hospital.

Please remember that there are currently two spaces in the taxi rank and that any illegal parking such as double parking or leaving vehicles in the pick up and set down zone may attract an infringement notice.

CANBERRA HOSPITAL

CABBERRA NINETEEN - 03


NEWS

The app suppliers are simply skimming large amounts of money from private and public ground transportation without being obliged to meet any obligations to the passengers or drivers involved.

In the US the International Taxi and Livery Association is raising $1,000,000 to fight for regulation of these apps.

In Australia, unauthorised apps have made no great inroads so far, but they are in the market place and do pose a serious threat.

In Victoria, the taxi industry is still fighting hard to have modifications made to some of the regulatory changes. Sixty new licences are to be released in the metro area “because lease fees have not come down”. The government wants them to come down to around $500 per week. It will lease its new licences for $423 +GST per week (up front for a year).

The 5% maximum surcharge for charge work has been introduced and so the networks’ commission will be discontinued and they will need to recoup their losses through base fees [In Canberra, the commission goes to operators and if the 5% max is applied everywhere, operators will lose around $120 per month].

Further, the Victorian Taxi Industry Association (VTA) is battling an attitude that suggests that if service improves, more taxis should be released to meet demand.

The US and Victorian situations highlighted the current threats and difficulties that face the taxi industry, but the conference also highlighted the opportunities and promises in front of us.

Among other things, speakers spoke of apps options for Australian taxi networks, marketing, and sustainable development.

Telephone apps in the USA have become a massive threat to the taxi industry and some seem to have no trouble raising finance. Google have invested $258m in Uber and banks and credit suppliers are lining up to be involved.

San Francisco seems to have been the breeding ground for several apps and as in New Zealand in the 1980’s and Ireland in the 1990’s, where an inadequate taxi service led to deregulation, taxi services in San Francisco were below public expectations. Apps now operate in many US cities.

In the US, apps started offering limousines (hire car type) services and then moved across into taxi work. This does not mean they engage taxis. Taxi drivers are involved, but in most cases any person can register as a driver and use any car he/she wishes.

The fares in these vehicles are not subject to authorisation by city officials, and passengers are most unlikely to be covered by appropriate insurance.

Via a Google-type map the passenger can see his/her vehicle approaching the pick-up point and the fare (including tip) is calculated and processed through his mobile phone.

This might sound good for a passenger, especially as the passenger is able to rate the driver and the vehicle after the trip, and a series of poor ratings can see a driver removed from the system, but there is no control on the fare charged and in peak times fares can be increased by several hundred percent, and there is no requirement for 24/7 service.

Drivers also rate passengers, so people with a disability, short trips, poor tippers, and others can be ignored.

REPORT ON THE

2014 INTERNATIO NAL TAXI CONFERENCEThe Australian Taxi Industry Association’s International Taxi Conference was held in Perth 30th March -3rd April. The conference was attended by affiliates of all Australian members. International visitors came from New Zealand, Canada, the U.S. and Singapore. Also present were taxi regulators and a good number of sponsors and exhibitors.

The theme of the conference was “Keys to Our Future Success.”

The 2014 conference presented a rather sobering scenario for the taxi industry in Australia and the US, but as usual, presentations from marketing people, tourism people, technology people, and taxi industry people outlined the keys for our future success.

Part of the grim side was outlined by news of the serious threat to the taxi industry in the USA posed by smart phone apps providers, and the difficulties the industry faces as it tries to convince authorities of the need to ensure that drivers who use apps and the companies providing them comply with the safety and insurance requirements rightfully imposed on the taxi industry.

Secondly, the situation in Victoria after its 2012 review of the taxi industry is frustrating industry leaders. The taxi industry is in favour of about 150 of the recommended changes but is facing difficulties as it tries to have about five impractical and unreasonable recommendations modified.

On the more positive side, the industry was presented with options aimed at countering the approaches of unauthorised phone apps in Australia, and in Victoria capable and positive people lead the taxi industry, and the future of public transport is promising.



NEWS

INTERNATIO NAL TAXI CONFERENCERegarding apps, Mr Matt Bellizia of MTData said his company had produced an app that could be used world wide and operate through existing taxi networks. It is a two-touch app that would order a taxi whose progress to the pick-up point can be observed by the customer.

A driver-rating feature can be included, giving a network the ability to assess the performance of a driver and adjust its training methods.

This app has the same capabilities as the unauthorised app but accountability and passenger safety are preserved.

131008 too has produced an app that may be used by networks.

[Aerial’s latest app, the Canberra Elite mobile booker was launched a couple of months ago and will include enhanced features in the near future. Convincing our passengers to use the company apps will nurture their loyalty. Being aware of the app’s features will help a driver. It can be downloaded from the Canberra Elite website, www.canberraelite.com.au].

Marketing is a perennial topic at an Australian taxi conference and is always important. It was addressed by Mr Graham Harvey, author and business coach. Even if the message is the same every year it should be heard so that industry participants are reminded of their duty to continually pass on the marketing message. But the message is not the same every year. There is always a different angle.

This year we were reminded that customers’ expectations have changed. They are much more demanding than they were only a few years ago.

We talk of the customer experience- the ability and the ease to obtain service, and the enjoyment of that service.

Mr Harvey spoke of a customer’s senses and how they influence his/her satisfaction level.

Cleanliness, colour of surroundings, body language, a uniform, a smile, a name badge give a perception of service, as does the greeting and the background music. A driver talking on the phone upsets passengers.

The smell in a taxi is very important. [Fragrances in new cars are not natural; they are carefully selected to impress the would-be buyer].

In the past, vinyl seats were regarded as practical and more hygienic for taxis, but things have changed and passengers regard them as hot, sticky and uninviting.

So the marketing message probably is the same. It says, “be aware of changing demands and do what needs to be done to address them”.

Mr Jemma Green of Curtin University addressed sustainable development.

Ms Green spoke of developments in Perth, but it seems her message applies to any large city.

Perth is growing by over 900 people every week and its population is expected to exceed that of Brisbane by 2028, so good planning is going to be necessary if Perth is to avoid serious traffic congestion.

Ms Green said the poorer people tend to own more cars and use them more because they live on the outer suburbs.

Perth has a widespread and efficient rail system and public transport is growing whilst the use of cars is declining.

Urban planning is being taken seriously and in a well-designed urban centre, taxis and bikes become a good option.

In London between the year 2000 and 2009, traffic congestion dropped by 19%. Excluding many types of vehicles from the central city area brought this about.

Most cities in the world seem to be facing serious traffic problems. If unabated private car use continues in the central areas it appears this is being increasingly acknowledged.

This suggests that the taxi industry does have a bright future as part of public transport.

ConclusionI believe the reality of the taxi industry is that it is always under threat and that the threats it faces at the present time are very serious. However, the taxi industry in Australia has always been blessed with an innovative attitude and is well equipped to handle the threats and to take advantage of the opportunities.

We have the keys to our future success.

JOHN MCKEOUGH



Mothers Day at Gold Creek

on Sunday 11th May. Visit Cockington Green Gardens, The National Dinosaur Museum, Canberra Walk In Aviary or Canberra Reptile Zoo and receive a free admission for a mum

Contact participating attractions for their individual locations, exact prices and opening hours.

Dates and times:11 May 2014

Sunday: 9.30am - 5pm

Address:Gold Creek Village, Gold Creek Road

EVENTS OF THE MONTH

Mother’s Day High Tea at the National Gallery of Australia

To celebrate Mother’s Day the National Gallery of Australia invite you to enjoy high tea in the majestic Gandel Hall. Enjoy a glass of sparkling on arrival and indulge yourself with an elegant selection of delicacies. Discover dainty tea sandwiches, warm baked scones with preserves and cream and a selection of mini cakes, pastries and savoury treats.

Dates and times:11 May 2014

Sunday: 3pm - 5pm

Contacts:www.nga.gov.au/whatson

Address: Gandell Hall, National Gallery of Australia

Parkes Place, Canberra



Bookings essential.

NEWSCABBERRA NINETEEN - 07


EVENT DATE AND TIME LOCATION65, an exhibition 01/05/2014 to 06/05/2014 Nishi Building

Spanish Film Festival 2014 01/05/2014 to 14/05/2014 Palace Electric Cinema

Warm Trees Art Installation 01/05/2014 to 01/06/2014 National Arboretum Canberra

Creative Textile Show 02/05/2014 to 04/05/2014 National Convention Centre

Cupcake Decorating 03/05/2014 Belconnen Fresh Food Market Kitchen

GIANTS vs Port Adelaide 03/05/2014 StarTrack Oval

Monster Slam 03/05/2014 Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC)

Parties at the Shops - Weetangera 03/05/2014 Weetangera Shops

As Famous as the Moon performing at the High Court 04/05/2014 High Court of Australia, Public Hall, Level 2

Collector Village Pumpkin Festival 04/05/2014 Village Centre

Photography workshop: Prime shot 04/05/2014 National Portrait Gallery

Feta Cheese Making 04/05/2014 YMCA Bush Capital Lodge

Don Quixote 05/05/2014 Canberra Theatre

Children and Family Programs: Little faces 06/05/2014 National Portrait Gallery

Public Lecture: Young driver road safety: an innovative approach to a persistent problem, Dr Bridie Scott-Parker 06/05/2014 Shine Dome

CSO Llewellyn Series 14.2 Mahler 7/05/2014 to 08/05/2014 Llewellyn Hall, Australian National University

Kitty Flanagan and the White Board 07/05/2014 to 18/05/2014 Canberra Theatre Centre

Torque - Past, present and future: A 3D printer’s perspective 07/05/2014 Questacon Technology Learning Centre

Adult Programs: Portrait learning circle 08/05/2014 National Portrait Gallery

Canberra International Music Festival 09/05/2014 to 18/05/2014 Various Venues

Brumbies v Sharks 10/05/2014 Australian Botanic Gardens

Canberra International Music Festival - Kingston Foreshore 10/05/2014 Norgrove Park

Mel Doyle presents Alphabet Soup 10/05/2014 National Library of Australia

The Return of the Grumpy Old Women: Fifty Shades of Beige 10/05/2014 The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre

Mother's Day High Tea at the National Gallery of Australia 11/05/2014 Gandell Hall, National Gallery of Australia

Mothers Day at Gold Creek Event 11/05/2014 Gold Creek Village

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa 16/05/2014 Llewellyn Hall, Australian National University

Monty Python's SPAMALOT 16/05/2014 ANU Arts Centre

Nick Parnell - Vibes Virtuoso 16/05/2014 The Street Theatre

Making Apple Cider 17/05/2014 YMCA Bush Capital Lodge

Parties at the Shops - Ainslie 17/05/2014 Ainslie Shops

Perception Deception 17/05/2014 to 02/11/2014 Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre

The 13-Storey Treehouse 17/05/2014 Canberra Theatre

Canberra Raiders vs Penrith Panthers 18/05/2014 GIO Stadium

Lady's Mantle performing Heart and Home at the High Court 18/05/2014 High Court of Australia, Public Hall, Level 2

National Portrait Gallery Portraits on Sunday: Upstairs, downstairs 18/05/2014 National Portrait Gallery

Old Bus Depot Markets - A Celebration of Wool 18/05/2014 Old Bus Depot Markets

Admission: One shilling 20/05/2014 to 22/05/2014 Canberra Theatre

National Portrait Gallery Book Group 21/05/2014 National Portrait Gallery

Heart of A Dog 22/05/2014 to 24/05/2014 The Street Theatre

Boy & Bear 23/05/2014 Australian National University Union Bar

Dance Workshops: Crossing Roper Bar 23/05/2014 Visions Theatre, National Museum of Australia

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow 23/05/2014 to 24/05/2014 Canberra Theatre Centre

Martin Taylor 24/05/2014 The Street Theatre

Masterclass: Martin Taylor The Art of Solo Jazz Guitar 24/05/2014 The Street Theatre

Reconciliation Week tours at the National Portrait Gallery 24/05/2014 to 03/06/2014 National Portrait Gallery

Apia Good Times Tour 25/05/2014 Canberra Theatre Centre

Canberra Raiders vs North Queensland Cowboys 25/05/2014 GIO Stadium

Reconciliation week at the National Portrait Gallery: Jack Manning Bancroft 25/05/2014 National Portrait Gallery

The Government Inspector 28/05/2014 to 31/05/2014 The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre

White Rabbit Red Rabbit 28/05/2014 to 01/06/2014 The Street Theatre

Radford College Art Exhibition and Sale 30/05/2014 to 01/06/2014 Radford College

Special Concert Event: Crossing Roper Bar 30/05/2014 National Museum of Australia

The Australian Women’s Weekly Fashion Book Launch 30/05/2014 National Library of Australia

Brumbies v Rebels 31/05/2014 GIO Stadium

Celtic Thunder: Mythology 31/05/2014 Royal Theatre, National Convention Centre

Freedman Does Nilsson 31/05/2014 The Street Theatre

EVENTS - MAY 2014

CABSPOT 35 35 BONNY ST AINSLIE

PICKUP LOCATION35

PICK UPGOODWIN AGED CARE SERVICES



DVA Transport is often asked how many veterans are left and why drivers don’t get as much work as they used too?

DVA’s client base is about 300,000 – the oldest client is a war widow aged 107. The youngest is a child of a soldier killed in Afghanistan under the age of one.

DVA continues to support around 167 war widows from the First World War. There are around 85,000 war widows of World War 2 and there are around 58,000 surviving veterans. That’s 58,000 of a total of one million who served!

Around 60,000 served in the Vietnam War which is roughly equivalent to the numbers who have served in contemporary military operations since East Timor in 1999. There are about 46,000 surviving Vietnam veterans and DVA currently supports about 42,000.

The major client base for Veterans’ Transport comes from what DVA refers to as the Treatment Population (TPop). The TPop consists of veterans and dependants who have been issued a Gold or White card entitling them to medical and other treatment at Department expense.

Veterans’ Transport is essentially about providing assistance to Gold and White card holders to attend their DVA funded treatment and who are generally aged 80 years or older. Card holders under the age of 80 can be transported to limited treatment locations only, such as hospitals.

As of 31 December 2013, the national TPop consisted of about 221,635 card holders with 5,230 residing in the ACT.

The vast majority of the passengers that are transported by the ACT taxi industry on behalf of DVA are aged 80 years or older. At 31 December 2013, more than 30% of the national TPop were aged between 80 and 89 with around 20% aged 90 years or older.

If you would like more information about DVA client statistics, including how many veterans reside in a geographic or local government area, you can visit the DVA website at:

www.dva.gov.au/statistics.htmL

HOW MANY CLIENTS DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS (DVA) HAVE?

Last Friday of every month!, From 10am-11am

30 National Circuit Forrest | 62034300

Enjoy a free Morning tea for Taxi Drivers



05

Harpreet Singh, Bal & Gurinderpal

Vaisakhi celebrated @ Airport

Jagtar Singh & Gagandeep

Manmohan

Sukhjinder

Vaisakhi celebration

Jaswinder

Michelle & Prince

John TX12

Muhammad Shafiq TX 99

Takaya

Balwinder Gill

MAY. 2014

EVENTS10 - CABBERRA NINETEEN


OUT ABOUT

Robert TX10, Gurpreet TX 499, Gurpreet Singh TX 67, Sumeet TX

Barat

Karnbir Singh, Jinder Singh & Ballu Bhullar

Satvir Singh TX484

Saini & Mohimber

Boota TX40

Krishan TX206

Qaiser Shahzad TX 73

Manish Gupta

Rakesh

Inderpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh & Riaz

Harpreet Singh Kahlon

AN

D

EVENTSCABBERRA NINETEEN - 11


Why Canberra?

Studies brought me to Canberra; you can say that I am a part-time student, part-time driver. It’s a model city-- I find it a very neat and clean place; and a smart territory with UC, ADFA, Duntroon, and ANU being located here. A lot of things are done cleverly here too.

What do you like most about your job and why did you choose it?

I have been in the hospitality industry since 1999 and after having a chat with a taxi driver I realised how great it could be as a driver. I personally enjoy the flexibility of the work involved.

It is like fishing almost – go where all the fish or passengers are. All you need is patience and good knowlege of where your passengers will be at any given point in time. You keep track of events when it gets busy and gain information from passengers so next year you’d know where to go to find them. As you improve your methods, the work becomes easier.

What do you think of the new taxi rank at the airport?

I think it is beneficial to the passengers; they won’t have to walk too far to the rank now. However some improvements could take place such as having toilets closer to the boom gate, which will make it easier for drivers. An entirely covered entry point connecting to the pick up area could also be useful for shade against the rain or the sun.

I dreamt of the ideal futuristic central base for taxis, to be just like in the movies. Here you can find facilities such as shower, locker rooms, bunk beds for drivers to rest between shifts; and PCs with printers, scanners, and internet Wi-Fi connection. Cab inspectors could be introduced at this central location too, where at the end or beginning of every shift an inspector would be able to inspect the conditions of the taxi, record damages, and send this report to the taxi owner electronically via e-logbook on an app or via email.

A 24-hour cafeteria offering a wide variety of hot meals at low prices, and a 24-hour service station for refueling, repairs, and towing again at low prices would also be advantageous.

A dedicated bank 24-hour branch to service drivers would be beneficial as some drivers find it difficult to make a deposit due to irregular working hours, which are sometimes outside business hours. This base could be centrally located like in Braddon so drivers wouldn’t have to drive too far away from home to collect their cabs. All cab drivers and operators will benefit from these services via a taxi club membership similar to Qantas Club.

Is there room for improvements in your opinion?

It would be advantageous to introduce improved methods for accurate documenting of surveillance video footages to have better security in taxis, maybe by using wider/sharper/low-light lenses, HD software and hardware, or by having more than one camera. I also think that these footages should be archived for a longer period in case police take a long time investigating taxi incidents. I also think it is important to have improved training for passenger service and procedures for incidents in taxis and lastly is having confortable barriers between the drivers and passengers could make both the driver and passenger feel safer too.

Last Friday of every month!, From 10am-11am

30 National Circuit Forrest | 62034300

Enjoy a free Morning tea for Taxi Drivers

Meet the driver:Carlo 3rd year of driving as a night driver



New laws establishing a no fault insurance scheme for the protection of ACT residents who receive catastrophic injuries in car accidents passed the ACT legislative Assembly on Wednesday 9th April.

The new scheme will be administered in the ACT through a buy in extension to the already established NSW Lifetime Care and Support Scheme.

The insurance will meet the costs of continuing treatment and care for the small number of people who are catastrophically injured on ACT roads each year.

John McKeough and Tony Bryce of the Canberra Taxi Industry Association (CTIA) with the picture of the Golden Temple generously presented to them by the Sikh Taxi Drivers Association of Canberra during the festival of Vasakhi.

The cost of the scheme will be covered by a levy that will increase the cost of car registration by about $34 per annum.

The levy is not regarded as rise in compulsory third party insurance premiums and at this stage the CTIA believes the rise for taxi registrations will be the same as that of a private car, and not subject to the relativity factor of 15 (as it is with CTPI).

The scheme is due to come into operation 1 July; the same day taxi fares are due to be adjusted. If the relativity factor is to be applied, the CTIA will seek to have it taken into account in the fare review.

NO FAULT INSURANCE SCHEME FOR CATASTROPHIC INJURIES



Sikh Taxi Drivers Association of Canberra celebrated the Sikh festival of Vasakhi on 14th April 2014, which marks 315th anniversary of birth of Khalsa, the name given to one who imbibes pure and truthful leaving as per teachings of Sikh Gurus.

The festival bears a great significance for the Sikhs due of the fact that on the Vasakhi day in the year 1699, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh ji laid down the foundation of the Khalsa and bestowed them with the teaching of defiance and gave them a code of conduct for serving disadvantaged and indigent.

EVENTS

This day is also observed as the thanks giving day by the farmers whereby the farmers pay their tribute, thanking God for the abundant harvest and also praying for the future prosperity. Vasakhi is a festival celebrated across the northern Indian subcontinent, especially in the Indian state of Punjab with great zeal and enthusiasm.

The Sikh Guru’s teach equality among all humans and guide us, “Let no one be hungry where the spirit of God prevails”.

Encouraged by the above verse the followers of Sikh religion often organise free community kitchen as a mark of respect towards their Guru. It is known as Guru-Ka-Langar where the food is served to everybody without any consideration of caste, color, creed and status in the society.

Following this practice Sikh Taxi Drivers Association of Canberra distributed free breakfast and coffee at Canberra airport to mark the festival of Vasakhi.

VASAKHI CELEBRATION WITH THE SIKH COMMUNITY

A MESSAGE FROM THE SIKH TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION OF CANBERRA



ENTERTAINMENTCABBERRA NINETEEN - 15


C MMENDABLE DRIVERS

We look forward to seeing many more drivers showing great service and being commended by our customers.

The difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary is just that little bit more.

Happy Driving.

CARLO From your passenger Geoff Walsh: I want to highly commend the actions of one of your drivers and your service staff. Last night I left a satchel in one of your cabs.

The driver of Taxi 105 returned the satchel after your service team contacted him. Not only was the satchel returned as quickly as possible, your service staff were able to assure me the item had been located and advise on the progress of its return.

The driver deserves special recognition for his assistance. He was not interested in a monetary reward and in an industry that draws its share of criticism stands out as a driver who is customer and service focused. My sincere thanks to all for their help.

HAMID MUSHTAQYour passenger called back after having his wallet returned. He was extremely grateful for the effort that was made to have it returned, and would like his gratitude passed onto the driver.

Although you were already logged off at the time the call was received, you still responded to the message that was sent to you the very next time you logged in.

Thank you for all the effort you have put in.





ENTERTAINMENT

This is how we started.

Xerography celebrates 75 years.

Seventy-five years ago, Chester Carlson created an easier way to duplicate information on paper. Named “xerography,” his invention revolutionised how information is shared and, ultimately, how office work gets done. In celebrating this 75th anniversary, we also celebrate Carlson. While tinkering in his lab in Astoria, Queens, he had one simple objective in mind: “…to make office work a little more productive and a little less tedious.” Fast forward to today: Simplifying how work gets done is core to Fuji Xerox and to the value we bring to our customers around the world.

Xerox is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation.

Documents

Cabberra 19