Tributes for beloved school bus stalwart
HOBART’S northern suburbs community is grieving the death of Ray Millington, who was doing repairs under one of his school buses when he was trapped and killed on Thursday at the age of 71.
He was the owner of Millington’s Coaches and adored by the schoolchildren and parents of Claremont, but he will be remembered as a caring father and a loving husband to his family.
Son Matthew Millington said his father was a truly family-oriented man who always made time for his three children and many grandchildren.
“He was a great man, a real family man, a great grandfather who just adored his grandkids,” Matthew said.
“He was also a wonderful husband of 41 years. Dad and Mum met at the Sapphire dance. Mum was boarding in town, Dad lived in Moonah at the time.”
Mr Millington bought the bus business when Matthew was just two years old, and his earliest memories are of his dad tinkering around in the shed and repairing bus engines.
His brother, Chris, inherited Mr Millington’s passion for hands-on, practical work, going on to become a sheet metal worker when he grew up.
Mr Millington was a working man right until the very end, still driving and maintaining buses part-time even into his 70s. Whenever he wasn’t working, he was either driving Land Rovers, flying model aeroplanes or pulling apart engines in his well-stocked shed.
Mr Millington spent 37 years driving school buses around the Claremont area. During that time, some of his passengers grew up and had children of their own who, in turn, caught his bus.
One of Mr Millington’s proudest moments was when his daughter, Anita Duncan, broke the Australian women’s powerlifting world record.
Mrs Duncan said her dad always supported his children’s endeavours and was always there for them emotionally whenever they were in need of it.
“He was a very genuine and caring father. He always took a huge interest in our lives,” Mrs Duncan said.
“He was very supportive and was always there for any of us kids if we needed anything. If any of us needed help, we’d give him a call and he’d immediately come running .”
Matthew said the family was making plans for the funeral and in the meantime would spend some quality time with their mother, Anne.
“She’s struggling, but she’s just soaking up the family support,” he said. “The family’s rallying together, like always.”