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JANUARY 2016 | Joanne Eisemann

THANKS TO A generous grant from the Deloraine and Districts Community Bank, Westbury has a new community bus.

“We’d been hearing from quite a few people that there was a need for additional community transport,” says Annette Barrett, Manager of Westbury Community Health Centre.

A change in government guidelines for use of government- owned vehicles meant that much of the transport previously available to community groups was gone.

“We put a submission into Bendigo Bank which was successful and wonderful. That was back in May,” shares Annette.

She added, “In the interim, bus licensing and accreditation requirements were changed. So, although we had the funding, we had to jump through quite a few hoops.

You have to be almost a public vehicle operator; that process has taken quite a few months. The bus has been backwards and forwards to Melbourne a couple of times.”

Most of the funding came from the Community Bank who contributed $38,500. MV Council chipped in $2000, Deloraine Health Association added $2,000 and the Westbury Community Health Centre contributed $10,000. Annette explains, “We don’t want it booked up for regular users. The idea is for flexible users to have access.

So, for example, Deloraine House, Blokes Day Out, Meander Valley Women on the Move, Scouts groups, exercise groups, U3A...those sort of groups who have difficulty accessing transport at the moment.

“It’s coming today and they are fighting over who can use it tomorrow. Its first big trip is likely to be to Flinders Island, taking some young people to a MV Council Stepping Stones camp. Some youth from Meander Valley are going to spend time with some youth from Flinders Island to assist with the transition of going to college in Launceston.”

To book the bus, call Eve Taylor on 6701 2150

[udesign_icon_font name="fa fa-camera" color="#000000"] Mike Moores