On Monday 6 September 1976, Ken Hansen started work at Ventura.
Fifty years later, he’s still behind the wheel – and there aren’t many corners of Australia he hasn’t seen along the way.
Today, Ken is a valued member of the Ventura Charter team, bringing decades of experience to every journey. Over the years, his work has taken him on countless trips, carrying passengers to destinations across Victoria and much further afield.
In fact, ask Ken where he’s been in Australia and it might be easier to ask where he hasn’t been.
From cities and country towns to long-distance adventures across the country, Ken has travelled to almost every part of Australia. There’s just one place up north still waiting to be crossed off the list. We’ll give you a hint… there are plenty of crocodiles, it’s a long way from Monbulk depot, and Darwin might be involved!
That lifetime of experience is part of what makes drivers like Ken so important to Ventura Charter. A great charter journey is about more than getting a group from A to B. It’s having an experienced, professional driver behind the wheel who knows the road, understands the importance of looking after passengers and genuinely enjoys the journey.
To celebrate his incredible 50-year milestone, past and present colleagues joined Ken at Ventura’s Monbulk Depot to share stories, catch up with old friends and recognise a career few people will ever match.
For Ken, having familiar faces from across the decades there to celebrate was particularly special. After all, 50 years on the road creates plenty of stories and even more friendships.
Ventura CEO Carol-Anne Nelson said Ken’s achievement was something the whole business could be proud of.
“Fifty years! How incredible is that? You just don’t see milestones like this very often, and it says so much about Ken and the person he is. He’s given such a huge part of his working life to Ventura, made so many friendships along the way and seen this business change enormously. We’re very lucky to have had him with us for all these years – although after 50 years, I think Ken probably knows Ventura better than all of us!”
Ken has seen buses, technology and the transport industry transform during his career, but the fundamentals of a great charter journey haven’t changed – look after your passengers, know your vehicle and get everyone where they need to go safely.
It’s an approach Ken has lived for five decades and one that continues to define the experience Ventura Charter aims to provide every time one of our coaches hits the road.
And after 50 years, thousands of journeys and almost an entire country explored, Ken finished his milestone celebration with a characteristically simple message:
“Keep up the good work.”
We will, Ken.
Congratulations on an extraordinary 50 years and here’s to wherever the road takes you next.
