General News
1 February, 2023
Groups fund new wheels
A NEW bus will help residents take in all the sights of the region thanks to the generosity of local community groups.
A NEW bus will help residents take in all the sights of the region thanks to the generosity of local community groups.
Terang and Mortlake Health Service (TMHS) welcomed the arrival of the new bus recently which will help social centre clients experience all the region has to offer.
Funding for the purchase of the bus was supported through donations from community groups with the Terang Senior Citizens Club donating $6250, Terang Hospital Ladies Auxiliary donating $10,000 and the Terang Community Op-Shop donating $6000.
TMHS director of community health Jane Bourman said the community support towards the cause was an overwhelming display of generosity from dedicated volunteers.
“We’re overwhelmed by the tremendous support we’ve received from groups in our community,” she said.
“We’re very appreciative of the tremendous support our small community provides.
“Terang punches well above its weight in terms of what our community groups provide our health service and see that it continues to thrive.”
The pursuit of a new bus for the social support clients has been a year-long process expedited through the pandemic thanks to the generosity of the community groups.
The bus will offer social centre clients and men’s group members day trips across the region, and alleviate pressure on the waiting list.
“There has often been a waiting list for trips due to the limited number of spots the existing 22-seater bus could offer,” she said.
“This second bus will be able to be utilised so more people can participate.”
Terang Community Op-Shop project manager Andrea Balcombe said she was happy to see the donation put behind a worthy cause.
“We’re there to raise funds through the sale of donated items, and despite only being open six mornings a week with a skeleton staff we’re steadily raising funds,” she said.
“We’re more than happy to look at any projects for local groups and organisations, including the hospital, so we were happy to help.
“It’s amazing for us to see something tangible; we’ve always been about trying to make sure we could see that donations were always going to things which would benefit our local community of Terang and the district.”
Terang Senior Citizens Club treasurer Marilyn McKinley said supporting the community was a point of pride for the club.
“The funds have been raised primarily by older senior citizens members who have stepped down, just throughout craft days and donations,” she said.
“So the money was sitting there and needed to be used, and we felt this was the perfect cause to support because it will directly help other senior citizens of the town.”
Terang Ladies Auxiliary treasurer Nola Davey and secretary Susan Keane said the whopping $10,000 for the cause was raised through a variety of functions.
“We’ve had golf and bowls, a jazz afternoon, in-house music and a fashion parade,” Ms Keane said.
“It’s great to give back.”
Ms Davey thanked members for their ongoing support in helping to raise the funds, and said new members were welcome to help continue the auxiliary’s fundraising efforts.
“We had four meetings a year, it’s not a big imposition, and we run four different functions,” Ms Davey said.
Anyone wanting to join the ladies auxiliary was invited to contact Ms Keane on 0437 177 634.
