The pair bought their first school bus in 1977, from the previous owners who drove the Horsham, Natimuk, Grass Flat route from 1944. 

Mrs Woodford, 78, said it was the same route she took to high school every day, and the route of her children. 

Little did the pair know with the purchase of that first school bus they were embarking on a 40-year venture that would take them across Australia and help them form hundreds of solid friendships. 

Mr Woodford, 82, said he always wanted a Mercedes, so in the late 1980s he bought a Mercedes bus to expand the operation and do weekend trips to the Murray River, where pokies were legal. 

“We started to increase tours and we didn’t know when we started what it would become,” he said.

The pair operated the business out of an office in their home, with Margaret taking bookings manually without the aid of a computer.

“We did it all ourselves. It looks like a big fleet but the whole thing was run by the two of us and a school bus driver,” Mrs Woodford said. 

From the time Mr Woodford had to make a sharp manoeuvre while someone was on the toilet inside the coach, to the infamous fine box for people who called their vehicle a bus, not a coach, the Woodfords said they would treasure their memories of the road.

“The greatest part of my life was touring,” Mr Woodford said. “It was the fantastic people we met and the camaraderie and friendship.

“We were able to take people of a mature age who hadn’t done a lot of travel before. You could see the excitement on their faces.”

The pair did homework before each tour, travelling to ensure their customers would receive the best accommodation and experiences, from theatre shows to interstate tours.

“People knew speaking to the person they’re booking with that we’re the ones who would be there and guide them,” Mr Woodford said.

“Every trip they knew they had to put up with me driving.”

Mrs Woodford said they were excited to spend more time with family, especially their four great-grandchildren, travel and meet up with friends in their retirement, but were still sad to say goodbye.