A NEW community bus will help give Warracknabeal residents better access to medical appointments.
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Rural Northwest Health received an $8000 grant from the RACV Community Foundation.
The money will go towards a new community bus that will have a lifter to help people get on and off.
Rural Northwest Health chief executive Catherine Morley said a new bus would benefit the whole community.
"We have a small bus in Warracknabeal that is a bit old and sad and not working as well as it should be," she said.
"So we applied to the RACV for a grant and we received it, which is great.
"We are now in the process of getting quotes to purchase a new bus and have a lifter put in it.
"Our residents in Yarriambiack Lodge use the bus and people can also use it for transport around town," she said.
"There is no other transport in town, so people can use it to get to
appointments or to the shops or chemist."
She said there was a need for more transport in the community.
"We have a lot of older, frail people in the community," she said.
"We also lend it to families who have a relative in residential aged care.
"The new bus and the lifter will allow those people to go home for events such as birthdays and family occasions."
Ms Morley thanked the RACV for its support.
"I encourage more people to find out about the grants they offer and apply, so we can continue to keep the community safe," she said.
The bus service is part of the Yarriambiack Transport Project, a
community initiative which started in 2012.
RACV Community Foundation manager Pete Haydon said the RACV was proud of its history of supporting community-based organisations in Victoria.
"Grants made by the foundation focus on supporting mobility in the community, with a view to boosting safety, environmental sustainability and social cohesion," he said.
He said the grant program had awarded more than $255,000 to 32 not-for-profit community groups across Victoria.