Roy Wakelin-King’s visit to the town was at the invitation of local  cab driver Geoff Freudenstein.

Mr Wakelin-King had been in frequent contact with Mr Freudenstein - also a Young Radio Cabs Co-Operative Limited board member - since his appointment to the CEO role 18 months ago.

Mr Freudenstein, suggested Mr Wakelin-King make the trip west from his Thirroul home to get a better understanding of what’s happening with the town’s taxis.

That day came last Friday as the CEO stood, rugged up in an overcoat and scarf at the taxi rank in Main Street greeting some of the 17 local taxi drivers.

He said it was a great opportunity to drop in and meet the drivers on the ground.

Mr Freudenstein - who has been a taxi owner-driver since 1994 -said it was the first time he had witnessed a visit to the town by a senior member of the taxi council.

Mr Wakelin-King said there tended to be a focus on what’s happening in Sydney and Young was one town, “reflective of rural and regional NSW”.

“It’s very important there is a strong and viable taxi service, especially when pubs and clubs and shops close, and that the industry remains viable into the future,” Mr Wakelin-King said.

“Statistically we get very few complaints regionally. We have a good customer service in country towns and Young is no different.”

He had a chance to speak with Young drivers and sat down with Mr Freudenstein and Young Radio Cabs president Mark Flynn to talk about local issues such as balancing their service with community transport providers, peak hours and growing the taxi business.

“We don’t oppose community transport. We recognise they have a very important place in the transport infrastructure in providing services to the town, in particular to the frail aged and those who need levels of care,” Mr Wakelin-King  said.

“What we want to make sure is that balance is right in Young. To make sure we’re not doing their work and they’re not doing ours,” he said.

“We’re also talking about how we service peak demand periods, particularly when all pubs close at the same time, and how Young Radio Cabs deals with that.”

Mr Flynn said it was a privilege to have Mr Wakelin-King visit, saying, “Young was a typical country town and if it’s important enough for the head of the NSW council to come out, it shows how much they appreciate what’s outside the city”.

“It gives us equal representation,” he said.

And Mr Wakelin-King was full of praise for the across-the-board branding of Young Radio Cabs, saying how much he liked a town with its own distinct brand.

“What I like is Young has its own distinctive livery… that’s branded with the town… I always like to see [that],” he said.

Mr Freudenstein said they actually acquired the logo through a competition in The Young Witness in 1997.