Three Toowoomba bus drivers recognised as top in Queensland

These three Toowoomba bus drivers do more than just take people from A to B and have been recognised in the Queensland Bus Driver of the Year awards for their efforts. Here are their stories:

Three Bus Queensland Toowoomba-based bus drivers (from left) Allan Humphrey, Allan Downs and Sam Davison have been nominated in the Queensland Bus driver of the year awards, Monday, March 24, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Three Toowoomba bus drivers make up one third of nominations in the Queensland Bus Driver of the Year awards, as the group is recognised for going above and beyond.

Sam Davison, 32, started his career by selling tickets for Greyhound buses when he was 15 years old. Now he has been nominated for the Queensland Regional Bus Driver of the year award.

Mr Davison, who wanted to be a bus driver for as long as he can remember, started at Bus Queensland in Toowoomba at 20 years old, and loves making a small difference in someone’s day.

“Especially if you’re having a bad day or something drastic has happened in the family, just to still come to work and be a positive person who everyone knows, it really makes you feel good,” he said.

A few years ago a woman hopped on Mr Davison’s bus and started chatting to him.

The woman’s name was Maddy and the couple is now married with one child.

“People never believe me but it did happen,” Mr Davison said.

Allan Humphrey, 61, and Allan Downs, 55, were both nominated for the School Bus Driver of the Year Awards.

Mr Humphrey previously worked for the post office, as a motorcycle instructor and spent a few years working in council before becoming a bus driver about seven years ago when he was looking for a job with fewer hours.

Thinking he would get into urban bus driving, Mr Humphrey ended up on the school bus run, and has never looked back.

“The kids make it so much better, and they are the reason that I’ve been nominated,” he said.

“You won’t get me driving an urban bus now,” he said.

One of the students who Mr Humphries has been driving to school for the past six years was the one who made sure he was nominated for this award.

“He got over half the bus on board too,” Mr Humphries said.

Mr Downs, who moved to Toowoomba from New South Wales in 2004, previously worked in the service station industry and as a truck driver before joining Bus Queensland 12 years ago.

Mr Downs has become a reassuring figure to parents and is someone students go to when they need to vent.

“I’ve got an ear if they need to talk to someone,” he said.

You can vote for your favourite bus driver at translink.com.au/driveawards. Voting is open until March 28.

All three drivers will be heading to Cairns for the Queensland Bus Industry Council Annual Gala Dinner and Awards Night in April.