GINGIN residents who need to get to Perth for medical appointments can now take advantage of a community car.
The community car, which was donated by anonymous donors, will be driven by volunteers who have completed first aid training.
The volunteer driver will pick up a resident from their home, take them to their appointment and then return them home again.
The service is only for medical appointments and cannot be used for shopping trips or visiting excursions.
Although primarily for seniors anyone in the community who needs transport to a medical appointment can access the service.
Senior Jill Love of Gingin has already used the community car to get to medical appointments in Perth.
Sylvia Kelly from the Gingin Care Group said the idea for the Gingin Community Car came from the group pooling ideas and putting out feelers to older people about what they would like as they grew older in Gingin.
She said it became obvious there was a great need for transport to take people to medical appointments in Perth.
“Our doctors were concerned when patients just couldn’t get tests, X-rays etc done,’’ she said.
“Families live too far away and friends no longer drive in Perth or have lost their licences altogether.’’
Gingin Care Group committee member and Shire of Gingin community officer Linda Fidge backed the proposal and when it was approved by the shire she asked the Gingin District Community Resource Centre to coordinate the drivers and passengers.
The shire agreed to do the lisencing, insurance and maintenance on the proviso all the drivers received basic first aid training, which was paid for by the Gingin and Lancelin Bendigo Bank branches.
To book the community car contact the Gingin CRC on 9575 1253 or email crc@gingin.net
A booking form needs to be completed any time a resident needs transport and users of the community car need to pay for fuel and any parking at their appointment.
