Cabbie’s nights rocked by smashed windscreen, racial taunts

ROCKHAMPTON might be a far cry from war-torn Afghanistan, but that doesn’t stop Adalet ‘George’ Celik fearing for his life every night as a taxi driver.

Local taxi driver George' Adalet Celik had a rock thrown at his windscreen. Photo Allan Reinikka / The Morning Bulletin. Picture: Allan Reinikka

"WE are not in Afghanistan."

Rockhampton might be a far cry from the war-torn country, but that doesn't stop Adalet 'George' Celik fearing for his life every night as a Rocky Cabs taxi driver.

George said he regularly endured racial taunts and verbal abuse on late shift.

"I'm scared every time I have a job."

Things took a more dangerous turn this week when a large rock was thrown at the windscreen of his cab as he was driving along Yaamba Rd.

George said he had gone to pick up a fare just after midnight Monday morning, but couldn't find the callers at the location they gave.

With no number to phone them on, George drove slowly along the road keeping an eye out for his potential customers when the windscreen shattered.

Describing his assailants as a dozen boys and girls 14-17 years old, George thinks they lured him there to cause damage.

It cost him $385 to replace the windscreen, plus the remainder of his night's takings, plus the shift of the daytime driver who was unable to drive the car.

As a parent he is calling on other parents to be more concerned with what their children are up to at night.

"I work seven nights a week, every night."

"I see many things, like kids walking in the middle of the road in the night."

After driving taxis for four years in Rockhampton, George was sick of people evading fares and causing damage to his vehicle.

And he has an answer to those who tell him to simply stop driving if he is scared.

"Quitting and going on the dole won't solve the problem."

Police inspector Virginia Nelson said investigations were continuing.

She encouraged people to report anything that looked untoward, including groups of people hanging around in unusual locations.

Originally published as Cabbie’s nights rocked by smashed windscreen, racial taunts