On June 6 Moora Shire President Ken Seymour presented the keys of the former Moora Shire Community bus to the President of the Moora Men’s Shed, Duncan Peter, and the Shed’s Shire Liaison Officer, Mr Frank Lewis. The presentation was attended by Men’s Shed members, community members, and a number of Shire Councillors.
Immediately following the presentation, and amidst much pressing of camera buttons, Men’s Shed members Brett Wyatt and Michael Berry tested a highly important feature of the bus — its wheelchair lift.
Cr Ken Seymour spoke about how the council had acted on the recommendation of the Shire CEO Alan Leeson to consider donating the bus to the Men’s Shed. The bus was due to be disposed of by the Shire, and shed members had shown interest in using the bus because of the wheelchair lift. The council also hoped that by hiring the bus to other organisations and community groups it would prove to be a valuable fundraiser for the Shed.
Duncan Peter thanked Mr Leeson for his recommendation to council and their subsequent unanimous acceptance to provide the Moora Men’s Shed with a very generous, valuable and much-appreciated donation.
Duncan said, “The bus is of particular value to the Men’s Shed, given the wheelchair lift and the number of Shed members in wheelchairs. There are several other members who, while mobile, find it difficult getting into or out of a bus that could now be lifted in and out.”
The bus now allows all members to participate in shed excursions.
Duncan also noted that preliminary interest by various parties indicated the bus should not only pay for itself but provide a means of raising funds for shed activities.
Since the handover, Lewis Motors in Moora have very generously agreed to undertake regular servicing of the vehicle at no cost to the Men’s Shed. The Shire has also paid for replacement of the windscreen, which was chipped and cracked, and some minor body repairs.
The Men’s Shed is currently awaiting the attachment by Concept Signs of new signs on the bus acknowledging its ownership and the generosity of the Moora Shire and Lewis Motors.
The bus has already been hired out for a number of days and further bookings have been made. The Shed itself will be using the bus shortly to pay a visit to the first Men’s Shed in country WA at Kelleberrin.
Anyone interested in hiring the bus should contact the Men’s Shed’s bus manager Frank Lewis on 9651 1372. Hire costs are based on a daily rate plus fuel and the driver must provide details of an approved licence (not necessarily a bus licence). If the group can’t provide a driver a qualified driver from the Men’s shed may be available at an additional cost.
