Which Nation/s are you from?

Biripi – from my Dad’s side

Bidjigal – my Mum’s side.

What’s your role at Gawura?

I am the school bus driver for the Koori kids.

I help between runs with the Facilities Mob at the school.

What attracted you to this job?

I saw it advertised at the AES at Redfern who are a job provider.

I had been driving semi trailers and buses my whole life, but I had to stop doing it because my knees wore out.  I have titanium knees now.

What does your typical day look like?

I start work at 6:30am. My finish time is supposed to be 5pm, but that depends on how the run goes. I do one big circle on the bus from Woolloomooloo to Ultimo – that’s the last stop.

When did you start here?

31 July 2018, so I’ve been here nearly 2½ years.

What’s your favourite part of your job?

The kids are good to be around and I love seeing the kids grow up.  That’s the best part of my job.

John’s a good boss and it’s a (culturally) safe place to work.

What were you like at school?

WHEN, I went to school I enjoyed a lot of subjects – especially sport and social studies.  I went to La Perouse Public School and Matraville High.

I used to play rugby league for La Perouse until I was 18.  I had a fair few friends. I see the once every blue moon now.

Like I said that’s when I went to school.

Who was your hero growing up?

My Pop, Mum’s Dad Hubert Timbrey.  He was a fisherman, I used to go with him all the time. He used to fish off La Perouse.  That’s when they used to swing the nets.  Everyone in La Pa used to eat fish.

My other hero was my Uncle Joe Timbrey.  He went to England and France to throw boomerangs.  He threw boomerangs for the Queen.

He used to throw boomerangs down at ‘the loop’ at La Pa.  He was a good bloke.  He took me under his wing.  I used to sleep on his lounge.

There’s more information on Bill’s Uncle Joe here – https://collection.maas.museum/object/84106