Mom’s Taxi is hanging up the keys
Over the years, the couple estimates they have probably transported around 320 000 children and travelled a million kilometres. This would include other trips that they provided over and above transporting children.
Owners of Mom’s Taxi Gavin and Jenny Tonkin have decided to ‘hang up the keys’ to their business after 19 years of transporting “precious cargo”, as the couple terms it, throughout Benoni.
The Farrarmere couple was motivated to start the business in the year 2000 when their nephew was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident.
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This was when Jenny realised that parents may have difficulty in safely transporting their children to and from school.
Then, on May 1 in the year 2000, Mom’s Taxi was born.
After servicing learners who attended schools such as Benoni High School, Farrarmere Primary, Ashton College International and Wordsworth High, the Tonkins said the decision to end the service came at the end of April 2019.
“We ended the business when we realised that the running costs to provide such a service had become too expensive,” explained Jenny.
“Also due to the economy, our service had become less affordable for parents and this resulted in fewer customers.
“We developed such a special relationship with the children and it was so rewarding to see them grow into young adults.
“Often we would be taking a group of young people out and I would here this voice ‘Aunty Jenny do you remember me? I used to go on the bus to school’.
“Our goal was to become a household name in Benoni and I believe we did achieve that.
“Our greatest achievement was when we received the Award for Best of Benoni in 2010.
“The very first trip was so nerve racking as we were embarking on a service that had never been done before.
“Our last trip was very emotional for the children and for us.
“Gavin gave every child a chocolate on the last day and the children made him such a beautiful card thanking him for all he did for them.
“There were even tears shed from both sides.
“Our slogan was ‘Precious Cargo in Transit’ and we would like to thank the parents for entrusting us to provide a very necessary service to our community.”
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