Fundraising gala to drive bus initiative forward

PORTARLINGTON’S free community bus hit the road this month, but the team behind the initiative is still hard at work raising funds to ensure the service can meet local demand.

In June, KMG Community Events partnered with the Portarlington Golf Club to trial the service, with the club donating one of its buses to enable the initiative to launch at least 18-months sooner than anticipated.

The bus currently operates one day a week, with eight volunteer drivers supporting its operation, helping residents across Portarlington, St Leonards and Indented Head travel to the shops and appointments.

Among those already benefiting from the new service is a woman who travels regularly from Indented Head to Leopold to attend appointments. She previously had to catch two different buses to get across town.

Another no longer struggles to travel to Drysdale to visit her husband, who lives in a residential aged care facility.

Fundraising, meanwhile, continues for a standalone bus that can be dedicated solely to initiative and its goal of addressing the transport gaps that exist across the region. The bus will allow the service to expand both its days and hours of operation.

“There is demand, but we need flexibility, which means we need our own bus,” KMG Community Events’ Marlene Ebejer said.

To support these efforts, KMG Community Events will host a fundraising gala on September 13 at Terindah Estate, with a three-course meal, award-winning wines, live music and a photo booth forming part of the event’s offering.

The gala will also feature a raffle, and both a silent and live auction.

Ms Ebejer thanked the community for supporting the initiative, including the businesses in Portarlington, across the Bellarine and further afield that have generously donated prizes to the gala.

Among those up for grabs are a mussel boat tour, accommodation at the Portarlington Grand Hotel, along with artwork from local artists, wines from Oakdene Estate and a pair of diamond earrings valued at $1,700.

“We’re just really excited to have the support of the community, and really thank the Portarlington Golf Club for allowing us to trial the bus,” Ms Ebejer said.

“We know – because we’re trialling it – that [the community bus] is going to work, and with the flexibility of owning our own bus, we’re going to be able to support so many more people in the community.”

For more information, email [email protected], or to purchase tickets before sales close on September 5, head to trybooking.com/DBWYS