The much-loved local bus driver has now officially retired, after completing her final school bus run along Foxes Lane last Wednesday, December 16, coinciding with the end of the school year.

Laline has been driving buses in Moree for 32 years, having started off with Moree Bus Service, owned by Eric and Janelle Watts.

That business was sold to Taylor's Bus Service, which Laline drove for casually before starting with Greg Reynolds 17 years ago when he bought the Foxes Lane school bus run.

At that time, he had just one bus, but his brother-in-law Wayne Fogarty came on board and the pair established the Reynolds and Fogarty bus service. They now have 18 buses.

Laline has been doing the Foxes Lane bus run for the past 17 years, and every second weekend she would drive the On Demand bus since it came to town.

Over the past 17 years, Laline has gotten to know the families along Foxes Lane very well, forming close relationships with the parents and children, many of whom she has watched grow up.

"I now have children of children that I am driving," Laline said.

"You see a lot of children go right through.

"Andrew Crowe has six children and I saw all of them go through school.

"Each time a mum would have a baby I'd get off the bus and have a look and then they'd be on the bus five years later.

"If any of the kids were a little bit naughty I'd call their parents and they'd sort it out. I had awesome parents out on the run."

On average, Laline would drive about 50 to 55 children to and from school each day, starting at the crack of dawn and not finishing until dusk.

"I'd be up at 5am in time to leave the depot at 10 to six and I'd get back at 9am," she said.

"Then I'd go back again at 2.30pm and finish up at quarter to six."

Although she's loved doing the school bus run, Laline said her biggest highlight as a bus driver was when she drove buses for three weeks of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

"I did the media run," Laline explained.

"I'd pick up the media people from all over the world. It was very cool.

"During the Olympics, the country drivers ended up doing the city runs. John Laws put a thing on the radio asking ex drivers to help the country drivers learn the roads. I had an elderly gentleman come on board and he told me a shortcut. Afterwards, a lot of the media guys told me I was a Formula One bus driver, because I got them to the stadium in 15 minutes, when it would usually take 35 minutes."

Olympics aside, Laline said the best part about the job was the kids, who she will miss now that she's retired.

"I am going to miss them all," she said.

"They were good kids. They always said good morning; it was lovely."

Laline said she won't miss having to get up at 5am every day, although she will continue to work part-time at Woolworths for three nights a week.

She said she is looking forward to being able to spend more time with her grandchildren and her father who recently turned 90.

On Laline's last day, a number of the parents along Foxes Lane organised a fitting send-off, getting on the bus with gift packages to farewell her.

Nell Montgomery, whose four children - Paddy, Jack, Edward and Clare - travelled on the Foxes Lane bus since 2005, said Laline will certainly be missed.

"Laline has been a fantastic bus driver," she said.

"She just feels like one of the family, since she has been in our lives so long!

"The whole road loves her, and are very sorry to see her go, but she deserves a well-earned break and wonderful retirement after 17 years driving the Foxes Lane bus!"

All six of the Crowe children - Mia, Maggie, Gerry, Nellie, Stanley and Flo - have been going on the Foxes Lane bus route since 2006, and dad Andrew Crowe said they've been in good hands with Laline behind the wheel of the bus.

"Every morning and afternoon Jodie and I shared the bus duties," he said.

"[Laline] was always a happy face; we really enjoyed our interactions with.

"We're very lucky. Our kids are our greatest asset and having someone look after them and take them safely to school, because you do worry, has been a weight off our shoulders."

The bus trip for the Crowes is about 60km, with Foxes Lane being one of the longest of the bus routes in the Moree district.

"It's also one of the hardest routes, as there's a lot of gravel," Andrew said.

"Not only has Laline had to battle with the kids, but the road conditions as well.

"We're sorry that she's retiring but she's given a great service and a lot of love and attention to the job; we're very thankful."