FIVE hundred and eleven days ago, they started with nothing.
Now, a week short of 17 months since the Bus Stop Recycle Shop opened its doors at Kerang, a willing band of 40 volunteers can now celebrate reaching their target of $100,000 to buy a community bus.
“It’s just awesome,” the volunteers’ leader, Carol Barton said.
Mrs Barton has long campaigned for a bus that could accommodate more than one wheelchair. Buses operated by Kerang District Health and Northaven aged care hostel only allow one wheelchair-bound person to be transported.
The nine-seater bus has been ordered and is currently being fitted to allow two people in wheelchairs to be transported with a hydraulic lift at the rear and step at the side. It is expected to be delivered within the next three months.
Speaking from the rear storage area at the Nolan Street shop, Mrs Barton said, “When we came in here, we had nothing. Now look at it.
“The support of the community has been awesome.
“The support with donations of goods and monetary donations has allowed us to get to where we are today. To thing we started with nothing, absolutely nothing, it’s just amazing.”
The recycle shop will continue to raise money to cover registration, insurance and maintenance for the bus, but Mrs Barton said a new project will be announced soon.
