Taxi Project: volunteer-run public awareness campaign

The Taxi Project aims to build public perception regarding the contribution Victorian taxi drivers make to our society.

The essence of this project is Taxi - The Inside Story, a 132 page publication showcasing the stories of Victorian taxi drivers.

Taxi Project is sponsored by 13CABS, Silver Top Taxis and UNIGAS. Taxi Project is supported by the Victorian Taxi Association (VTA), Taxi Talk magazine and the Victorian Taxi Directorate.

Monies raised in the sale of the publication will be donated to Very Special Kids.

Taxi Project was created by Rachael Guthridge, who after hearing yet another amazing story from a taxi driver in July 2008, decided to work out a way to have these stories heard and seen by all Victorians.

Excerpt

The following is an excerpt from one of the stories in the publication:

Being a taxi driver seems like a strange career choice for someone like Tracy. Although a Geelong girl 'born and bred', she admits to having no innate sense of direction and didn't even know her way around her home town until she started driving taxis four years ago.

She explains that when she started driving, 'I needed part-time work and hadn't worked in a long time'.

'[I had] no qualifications, so I thought I'd give it a burl. So, there I was and here I am: loving it'. Tracy's dad had been driving cabs since she was eight or nine years old and as she talks, his taxi wagon drives past.

She insists that her dad is the one with stories to tell, that there is nothing remarkable about returning to paid work after decades of raising children and coming to love a job that many people are dismissive about.

There is no preamble with Tracy. She launches straight into the conversation and it's easy to imagine that she is like this with her passengers.

'I love meeting new people, and I love my regulars. You get to hear such interesting things. You get to hear different views'.

One of Tracy's favourite stories was when a young man, who had possibly watched too many movies, instructed her to drive up to a garbage bin. He pulled out a wrapped package (which looked suspiciously like a firearm) and placed it behind her seat. He looked like the cock-of- the-walk. A crim. Well presented.

Until they pulled up at his place to find a police van parked outside.

He explained to Tracy that the police were probably just there about his stolen guitar but she should drive on anyway, as he'd forgotten something from where she had picked him up.

Tracy drove off slowly with the police in pursuit. She told her fare that if the police 'put on their lights and sirens, I'm going to pull over and you're going to get out. OK?'

'Alright', he agreed, and paused before asking: 'Reckon we could lose them?'

'We're in a big, yellow car with big numbers all over it. Don't think we're going to lose them', she replied. 'Now, we're going to pull over. OK dude?'

When the policeman looked in the open taxi window, the passenger was all innocence. 'Found my stolen guitar, have ya?'

Tracy laughs. She knew she was never in any real danger. Still, she doesn't work nights.

She shakes her red curls and laughs, but becomes serious again when talking about her responsibilities towards her passengers.

'They trust us, so we have to be careful we don't break that trust. It's a huge responsibility. We've got to look after them'. Crinkles appear around Tracey's eyes. She's obviously well-qualified for the job.