Beloved driver racks up 50 years working with Dyson group

Tony Cardamone has seen it all in his 50 years behind the wheel for Dyson’s buses, including as the driver for the Carlton Football Club in the 1980s. He spills the beans on what Bruce Doull was like as a passenger and his wildest night out with the players.

Tony Cardamone is celebrating 50 years of driving Dyson buses. Picture: Rob Leeson.

School students, tourists and footy trips — in half a century behind the wheel of a bus Tony Cardamone has seen it all.

The Dyson Group driver, from Coburg, is this month celebrating 50 years with the company after he joined on a whim.

“I had a heavy vehicle licence because I thought I’d drive a truck,” he said.

“I thought if I didn’t like (driving a bus) I’ll go and drive a truck.

“I was only 21, I got to meet people and there were plenty of girls getting on the buses.”

Tony is well known for his warmth behind the wheel. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Mr Cardamone has spent almost his entire career on the roads, including school runs and driving tourists to hot spots such as Phillip Island.

A stint driving the Carlton Football Club to games in the 1980s sparked a friendship with coach David Parkin, but he didn’t give up his support of Melbourne.

“Bruce Doull was the funniest player, he would just sit in the back and not say anything,” Mr Cardamone said.

A footy trip to Sydney’s Kings Cross was the closest the teetotaller got to trouble after he was dragged into an establishment by the team.

The ‘Flying Doormat’, Bruce Doull

Dyson general manager of driver engagement Greg Deacon said he remembered catching Mr Cardamone’s bus as a kid and he was part of the family at the company.

He said the driver’s friendly nature was matched by his driving record — Mr Cardamone claimed he’d never been in a major crash.

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“He goes to our kids weddings and 21st birthdays,” Mr Deacon said.

“He’s the only one that worked under our original founder, our grandfather.”

Now semi-retired, Mr Cardamone still completes the morning and afternoon student runs at Northcote’s Croxton Special School.

And he has no plans to give back the keys for good.

“I get to work and can be back home by about 9am and my wife is (still) in her pyjamas,” he said.

“It’s too good, I can’t give it up.”