THE Portarlington Mussel Festival for the first time will offer three 25-seater buses to transport guests to and from the event next year.
\nFree bus co-ordinator Elizabeth Turner said this was great news for the festival, but more volunteer drivers were needed.
\n\u201cIf you have a minimum of a Light Rigid Driver\u2019s Licence \u2013 put your hand up and drive!
\n\u201cVolunteers will drive between the Portarlington Recreation Reserve on Sproat Street and Parks Hall on Newcombe Street \u2013 a 2km circuit.
\n\u201cShifts are two hours unless picking up or returning a bus to the AVIS depot in Geelong.\u201d
\nMs Turner said volunteers would receive a festival T-shirt, bottle of water, meal voucher and heaps of thanks from passengers.
\nShe said three drivers – Chris Kelly, Terry Parson and Brad Stien \u2013 all enjoyed volunteering throughout the festival and had lots of stories to tell.
\nMs Kelly said it was always busy, but passengers were polite and happily talked about the festival.
\n\u201cOur volunteer drivers help thousands of visitors.
\n\u201cMany are happy to walk but for others that\u2019s not easy, so the free bus is a very needed service.\u201d
\nMr Parson said volunteers at the recreation reserve and Parks Hall were the best.
\n\u201cThey fold up prams, walkers and load everything on and off the bus.
\n\u201cIt means I concentrate on driving for my shift.\u201d
\nMr Stien said he\u2019d driven for two years and would be driving again because there was a real feeling of being part of something special.
\n\u201cMy wife Sandy and I are in this together\u2026 Sandy drives a 12-seater bus and I drive a 25-seater bus.
\n\u201cWe relax after the festival and share our stories \u2013 how excited children were, tired mums and dads, and boxes of mussels loaded on board.\u201d
\nThe next Portarlington Mussel Festival is on January 11, 2020.
\nIf you would like to volunteer, email Ms Turner on elizturner@bigpond.com or phone 5259 3057.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Portarlington Mussel Festival for the first time will offer three 25-seater buses to transport guests to and from the event next year. Free bus co-ordinator Elizabeth Turner said this was great news for the festival, but more volunteer drivers were needed. \u201cIf you have a minimum of a Light Rigid Driver\u2019s Licence \u2013 put […]<\/p>\n