This Anzac Day, passengers heading to the Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial may find themselves in the capable hands of someone who understands the significance of the day better than most.
CDC Canberra driver John Muir OAM, an Australian Army veteran with more than four decades of service under his belt, will be behind the wheel of one of the free buses running to the War Memorial this Anzac Day. For John, it’s more than just a drive – it’s personal.
“I volunteered for it,” he said. “I’ve done it before (in 2023) and I really like being part of Anzac Day in this way.”
He said the annual commemoration had always held a special place in his heart.
“It’s an important day. It’s a chance to catch up with mates I’ve served with, have a bit of a natter and see each other again,” he said. “My regiment always gets together for lunch afterwards – it’s something I look forward to.”
This year, after finishing his early morning shift, John will stay at the Memorial to attend the service and reconnect with fellow veterans.
At 66, John is a proud veteran who served in operations across Malaya, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was a paratrooper in the Royal Australian Regiment and also spent three years as a member of the Australian Army Parachute Display Team, the Red Berets.
John was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
He retired from the regular army in 2019 after 42 years, followed by another five years in the Reserves. Not one to sit still, John joined CDC in 2020 and has been driving buses ever since.
“I actually got my bus licence in the army,” he said. “I had a posting in Western Australia and ended up getting a part-time job as a driver in the Pilbara, in Karratha, because it was expensive to live there. I really enjoyed it, so I kept going when I retired from the Army.”
Now based in Canberra, John drives urban routes and said he enjoyed the simple pleasure of meeting people on the job.
This Anzac Day, CDC Canberra is supporting local communities with free buses travelling to and from the Australian War Memorial for the Anzac Day Dawn Service from set locations in Queanbeyan, Googong and Jerrabomberra.
One of those buses will be hard to miss – beautifully wrapped in a striking Anzac design and driven by John, who’s proudly taking the wheel to mark the occasion.
CDC Canberra Regional Manager, Michael Micic said putting on the free services was a way to give back to the local community in which CDC operates, which includes a sizable depot and regional headquarters in Queanbeyan.
“This activity is designed to help attendees in the greater Queanbeyan area easily get to the War Memorial early in the morning, before our regular buses start, and return safely after the service.
“In addition to the special Dawn Service free buses offered by CDC Canberra, veterans, army personnel and their families can travel free on all regular CDC Canberra and NSW public bus routes throughout the day – making it easier for more veterans to attend reunions and other Anzac Day events,” Mr Micic said.
