Ray Higginson
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2010.
Born in Brunswick Melbourne on the 16th December 1928, Ray moved to Yarrambat at an early age where he was educated. He lived on an orchard and moved back to Brunswick to start an apprenticeship.
He trained as a motor mechanic at the Collingwood Technical School. He worked for a company named Waltons and then was employed by Reid's Bus service in Fairfield Melbourne as a mechanic where he began to drive buses. He worked there for many years before he moved into trucks
Ray Higginson initially worked for Metropolitan Dairies in Preston driving milk tankers and as a mechanic. In 1964 Ray bought his own bus on Dawson Street Brunswick and in 1969 bought out all other owners and started a partnership called Moonee Valley Bus Lines. In 1970 Ray purchased his first new bus; a Bedford Van 70 freighter body from Adelaide. In September 1970 he did his first tour to central Australia. He operated several tours to central Australia over the next few years. In 1972/73 Ray purchased another bus service in Caulfield Melbourne and the charter and tour fleet grew. In 1973 he bought a quarter share in a travel company called Expo Adventure. In 1975 he purchased an Albion Clydesdale and, in 1977, a new Domino Tourmaster.
In 1980 he separated from his partner to control Moonee Valley Bus Lines on his own and 1982/83 he purchased all shares in Expo Adventure which operated countless thousands of tours throughout Australia, carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers including, school groups, general public and international passengers on camping and accommodated tours. Expo Adventure supported many subcontractors over the years operating buses throughout Australia along with employing drivers and cooks.
Ray is a founding member of ALDECC (the Australia Long Distance Experienced Coach Crews) and a long standing member of Bus Association Victoria. The company is still operated today by the Higginson family and has metropolitan, rural and school contracts, charters and tours.
