New SoupBus to serve southern suburbs

THE Rotary Club of Ballarat launched a new SoupBus last month – the club’s major project in its centenary year.

The refurbished bus will serve the suburbs of Sebastopol, Redan and Delacombe and was developed in partnership with the OnTrack Foundation.

It will be the third SoupBus location and will work in conjunction with the existing Ballarat Central and Wendouree West buses operated by OnTrack.

The club expects the bus – known as Gertie – to provide more than 10,000 meals a year to people in need in the south of Ballarat.

It was funded using proceeds from SpringFest over the last two years and was overhauled with additional help from the Rotary Club of Balwyn.

The refurbishment involved installation of a new and fully operational commercial kitchen with dual ovens, cabinetry, hot and cold water systems, fridges, freezers and storage cupboards.

The bus was also repainted and repaired.

“This is a proud moment for us,” club president Peter Dunn said. “We have responded to a call by our community and worked with the OnTrack Foundation to increase the number of people in need supported by the SoupBus.

“We believe access to the meals served from the refurbished SoupBus will make a real difference in people’s lives.”

The bus was launched by Mr Dunn, Rotary Foundation chair Holger Knaack, and OnTrack Foundation chair Craig Schepis.