‘Shock and awe’ in Christmas cheer: Randwick kids decorate local bus

Students at a primary school in Sydney’s east have taken over from Santa’s elves to spread Christmas cheer, and are hoping to take home the citywide decorating crown.

Have you ever wondered how Sydney’s festive buses get decorated?

In Randwick, the job is up to an entire school of kids from kindergarten to Year 6 who have teamed up with bus operator Transdev John Holland to provide Christmas cheer.

The decorations aren’t only for festive cheer, as each bus operator in the Sydney metro region will compete this week to determine who has put together the best Christmas transport – all to be judged by a local kid.

Bus driver Mauro Bastos Fernandes, better known as Moz, with a group of Rainbow Street Public School students. Picture: Thomas Sargeant

The decorations are part of a festive competition across the city. Picture: Thomas Sargeant

Bus driver Mauro Bastos Fernandes has been decorating his bus for six years, and last year took home the competition’s crown.

Mr Fernandes said his strategy to win was based on “shock and awe”.

“I want people to walk on and have too many things to look at,” he said

“It’s for the look on people’s faces even if they’re not catching the bus. It takes their mind off anything they have to deal with throughout the year.”

Students decorating one of their local buses over the Christmas season. Picture: Thomas Sargeant

Rainbow Public School co-captains Lenita Stoikos and Cai Evans worked alongside younger students to decorate the bus.

Leina said her favourite part of decorating with her classmates was placing tinsel around the windscreen wipers.

“We put stickers on the windows and we also put some ornaments up on the tinsel,” she said.

Students at Rainbow Street Public School in Randwick. Picture: Thomas Sargeant

“My favourite part of decorating the bus was spending time with my friends and my family.”

Cai said over the break he’s excited to participate in Secret Santa with his friends, as “it’s really fun giving gifts to people”.

“It’s so fun getting to experience (Christmas) with my classmates”.

The decoration competition is supported by Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Marjorie O’Neill, who said Sydneysiders should catch buses over the festive season “and keep an eye out for the Christmas ones”.

“It spreads a little bit of Christmas cheer on our buses, which are the lifeblood of our community,” she said.

“To me, this is what Christmas is all about – community and coming together to spread a bit of cheer.”

Originally published as ‘Shock and awe’ in Christmas cheer: Randwick kids decorate local bus