"SPOTTER BOTHER"

[Bob C]

With thanks and acknowledgement to Gary Adshead, Editor of the column “Inside Cover” for this piece which appears in today’s (3 September) “West Australian”.

Everyone needs a hobby, but you could have knocked “Inside Cover” over with a feather when we heard about bus spotting in Perth.

A bit like the anoraks who look out for, photograph and log the movement of trains and planes, there’s a bunch of bus boffins who do the same.

“1561 (bus number) did circle routes while at Canning Vale so interesting to see it back on that run for just a few hours,” reads an example from the spotters’ forum on Busaustralia. “661 was seen in Oats Street this morning.”

But for a few days in October, they’ve been advised to curb their enthusiasm and consider putting their binoculars and biros down.

You guessed it, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is on and even bus spotters are a security threat.

Transperth buses and chartered coaches will be used to move police and dignitaries around our fair city. The last thing the CHOGM security services need is the serial numbers and routes of the buses popping up on the watchers’ forum.

“We request members not to post sightings of buses engaged in CHOGM official duties,” a notice on Busaustralia said.

The spotters were warned that carrying on as usual could attract attention from people with guns who yell, “armed police, don’t move.” So, we just ask that members take this advice as one’s behaviour can affect the wider community of bus enthusiasts in the long run,” the spotters were advised.

Funny at first but a very timely reminder to us all.

Cheers

Bob