MANY Collie residents are dependent on Collie Bus Service to get to school and to work.
The company has been operated by the Pilatti family for many years.
Current owner Graeme Pilatti has owned and managed the business for eight and a half years but his uncle was in charge of the company for 28 years before that.
Mr Pilatti was born in Collie and started his working life as an apprentice boiler maker at the then State Electricity Commission.
On completion of his apprenticeship he went into construction at Muja and finally into coal mining.
Collie Bus Service has 11 buses and transfers Premier miners to and from work as well as operating four school runs.
"It's important that mine workers are driven home safely after they've worked long and tiring 12 hour shifts," Mr Pilatti said.
Three of the four school bus services transport school children to and from school within Collie's borders.
The fourth service operates the Collie, Muja and Darkin school run.
"Our drivers on the school buses are like mums and dads to the kids," Mr Pilatti said.
In addition to transporting miners and school children, Mr Pilatti's business also contracts for motor vehicle drivers' licence assessors, covering eight towns in the South West.
"I love my work, everyday is different," Mr Pilatti said.
Mr Pilatti attributes his business success to his workers.
"Without them there would be no business."
