The Gippsland Community Foundation is supporting a new initiative which will support older residents and volunteers in towns impacted by the Black Summer Bushfires.
The foundation has donated $38,500 to Cycling Without Age Gippsland (CWAG) which is set to offer rides on purpose-built trishaws for people who don’t have the capacity to cycle by themselves.
The donation has supported the purchase of two trishaws and a trailer to offer a mobile service throughout the region.
Gippsland Community Foundation Chair Barry Henwood said it was an exciting project which would bring the communities together.
“The plan is to deliver a service to towns directly impacted by the Black Summer bushfires including Lakes Entrance, Orbost, Bruthen and Mallacoota,” Mr Henwood said.
“The mobile nature of the service will allow CWAG to take the trishaws to several locations based on community demand and the availability of trained volunteers.”
Honorary chair of CWAG Darren Chester said the foundation’s support had allowed the volunteers to fast track their plans to offer more rides.
“We had received great support from local businesses and community groups but the donation from Gippsland Community Foundation has meant we were in a position to purchase a trailer and an additional trishaw,” Mr Chester said.
“It’s made a huge difference to our plans and we are looking forward to training more volunteer pilots in the weeks ahead and bringing the joy of riding to older Gippslanders across the region impacted by the bushfires.
“We know that bringing people together as volunteer pilots and passengers will help to reduce loneliness and make our communities even stronger.”
