New roads beckon for local taxi driver

When I first called Ian Munro about writing a story on him for the Reporter, he politely told me to find better things to do with my time, saying there must be better people I could talk to in Harvey.

I asked if he wanted to think about it for a few days and if I could call him again the following week.

He said I could, but made no promises about a story.

Thankfully, by the next week Mr Munro had changed his mind, and I got to sit in his cab and hear his stories from the road. And oh boy, did he have stories.

The Harvey Taxi owner has spent 17 years taking people where they need to go, on top of the 30 years he worked as a truckie.

In his life on the road, Mr Munro has seen the stunning landscapes across our beautiful country.

As the sole taxi service in the area, he has also seen a lot of human nature — the good, the bad and the ugly.

Mr Munro had a lot of stories to share, but he didn’t have even one bad word to say about the people who had been in his cab.

He spoke of the kind and respectful nature of Harvey residents, especially the “young ones” who did the smart thing by calling a taxi after having a few drinks.

Mr Munro’s praise made it clear that his reservations about being in the paper were not because he was shy, but because he saw what he did for a living as his part in serving the community.

Mr Munro’s main concern about retiring is leaving the town without a taxi service.

He is genuinely worried about letting people down.

He is one of those people among us who keep things ticking over, without ever getting the recognition or praise they deserve.

Humble people, who knuckle down and get things done behind the scenes.

This type of personality is something I’ve seen so many times in my three years at the Reporter, it seems to be characteristic of the people within our two great shires.

I think we all share Mr Munro’s hope that a buyer will come along and keep up this vital community service.

And I think we all wish Mr Munro all the best in his very well-deserved retirement.