About Us

Taxi Talk took its first faltering steps in May 1966 and for the first time in 60 years provided a forum for a common cause in the taxi and hire car industry.  The decision to publish Taxi Talk as a medium for dissemination of taxi news constituted a progressive move by the publishers for the Victorian taxi operators and drivers.

May 1 1966!  It really does not seem that long ago that we proudly watched our first edition roll off the press.  Perhaps the time has flown because they have been such eventful years.  Forty-two years ago Taxi Talk was a small, pocket size magazine, 8x5 inches.  The very first edition of the taxi industry's own magazine.  At long last, the voice of the Victorian taxi industry.

The first editorial read, in part:  "....You are now reading the first edition of Taxi Talk.  the first magazine to serve the Victorian Taxi Industry exclusively.   We, the Editors and Publishers, are pleased with our efforts and sincerely hope that our readers are too.  If you are, tell us, and tell everybody.  If you are not pleased, tell us and nobody else.  The Editors will be glad to receive your criticisms, articles or comments.  It will help us make a magazine which you will enjoy reading, and which you will support."

Our first advertiser was Frank Hart (Martin Meters), who at that time, was the proprietor of "Safety Screens" a small workshop in Nicholson.  

July 1966 saw our first official item from the Victorian Taxi Association.  It is worth repeating some of it here:  ".... arrangements have been finalised user which members of the Hire Care Division of the Victorian Road Transport Association will shortly be transferring over to the Victorian Taxi Association.  this means that the whole of the privately operated commercial road passenger services throughout the State will in future be administered through this Association".  An historic moment for the industry.

Taxi Talk has since documented nearly all of the Victorian Taxi Associations 43-year history and endured the reign of seven Presidents. In May 1971 Taxi Talk - voice of the Victorian taxi industry became the first official journal of the Victorian Taxi Association.

Today it is a B5 colour magazine produced monthly (excluding January) with contributions from all sectors of the Victorian taxi and associated industries and is written for all members, government and interested people of the happenings in the Victorian taxi-cab industry.  It is for the Taxi Driver, Taxi Operators, Taxi Owners, Industry Suppliers and Service Trade Providers to keep abreast of the Victorian Taxi Industry's news. 

Allen Lang, past VTA President, says "Irrespective of whether readers laughed, swore or nodded their heads in wise agreement, Taxi Talk through the long years stirred lively comment. Taking up the call from all areas and sections, the Taxi Talk team have added their own brand of flavour in reporting. Often scathing, other times conciliatory, Taxi Talk has lifted the soul of the industry. The magazine has survived and prospered to this date due to its ability to change with the times, accommodating all views and not losing its integrity."

"It has never ceased to amaze me as I move around various offices, the halls of power and even around the world as to just where this magazine pops up. From the desk of the Victorian Premier, to the glovebox of a New York cab, to the magazine rack in the Hilton Hotel London, to be found discarded on a table in Amsterdam's International airport, Taxi Talk gets around."

If you want to get a message to these people, then Taxi Talk can certainly do that for you. Taxi Talk magazine has a circulation of 4,000 copies and a readership of say, 13,500.  The Publisher, while taking every precaution will not be held responsible for errors or omissions.

Taxi Talk - the voice of the Victorian taxi industry  magazine is produced, edited and published by Trade Promotions Pty Ltd, located in Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia.  It is printed by Brougham Press in Scoresby, Victoria, Australia.