Taxi driver gets a fare run

By CASEY NEILL
DANDENONG Ranges taxi driver Robin Reeves will hang up his keys this month after driving people around the hills for more than 30 years.
On 29 June he’s giving up the career and stunning views from his Upper Ferntree Gully home to move to sunny Queensland.
“I can’t wait,” he said.
“It’s time to move on. I turn 70 next month. It’s time.”
Mr Reeves’ wife of 10 years Judy is also retiring to make the move north. He’s leaving children and grandchildren behind – and plenty of loyal customers.
“That’s going to be a bit sad, obviously,” he said.
“They all say they’re going to miss me.”
“There’ll still be boys and girls at Dandenong Ranges Taxis here to look after them.”
Mr Reeves started driving taxis at night and on weekends when his kids were young as an extra income.
Then his first wife died suddenly in 1992. He gave up his full time job to drive taxis during the day to give him the flexibility to care for his children.
“And I’ve been doing it full time ever since,” he said.
“It’s been good. I’ve met a lot of nice people and friends.
“They’re really nice people up in the hills. They’re very friendly.
“They like having a regular taxi driver. They want drivers they can trust.”
Mr Reeves has seen “a lot more traffic” enter the hills during his time on the road and an increase in tourists to the area. He enjoyed sharing his local knowledge with them.
“They always want to know the best places to go,” he said.
“The best restaurants and things, and I’ve eaten in most places in the Dandenongs.”
He’s loved calling the hills home for the past 35 years-plus years but is looking forward to living on flatter land. He needs to get his legs moving after a long day in the car but negotiating the hills with his dog is becoming more challenging.
Mr Reeves expects his final day to be quite emotional.
“If it’s as long as today I’ll be glad to go,” he told the Mail last week.
“I certainly won’t miss getting up in the morning. I’m not a morning person.”
But the call of the cab could see him driving the “odd day or two if I can” in his new home.