Children celebrate Matilda’s final journey

Matilda the school bus has retired, much to the dismay of her dedicated driver.

Sixteen children were on board for Matilda’s last trip home from Nelson Christian Academy on Friday.

Part-time teacher and bus driver George Dunning inherited Matilda six years ago.

He said it was the end of an era for the ‘‘gorgeous, chine’’.

He has known the children who travelled in Matilda since they started school.

‘‘I’ve never met such a respectful bunch of children. I wouldn’t trade them for the world.’’

He shouted Matilda’s passengers a Mr Whippy icecream each as part of the vehicle’s farewell.

The school bus

comfortable,

lovely

system

will

ma-

be restructured next term and the children will be split up between other bus services.

After 25 years on the road, Matilda was no longer allowed to be a school bus.

Mr Dunning said it could end up with a private charter company in Nelson.

‘‘It would be a shame to see her torn apart and made into a motorhome,’’ he said.

Five-year-old Poppy Gillooly-Cameron said she would miss Matilda. ‘‘It’s sad. We love going on her so much.’’

Matilda was adorned with tinsel and full of the children’s baking and farewell cards for the final trip. On a regular day, the bus was full of drawings and puppets, and each child had their own cushion marking his or her seat.

Mr Dunning said some of the drawings taped to the ceiling were five or six years old. ‘‘It’s all part of making the children cosy, happy and comfortable. It’s very special,’’ he said.

The bus even had its own magazine, which was put together by the children.

Mr Dunning said they celebrated birthdays on Matilda.

‘‘The kids can’t resist an occasion to celebrate . . . we’ve had a few parties on the bus.’’

He said the children who caught Matilda were like an extended family. ‘‘People say to me, ‘George, have you got any grandchildren?’. And I say, ‘Yes, I’ve got a bus full of them’.’’