General News
27 April, 2024
Busting for a rural bus
Jeparit resident Fay Gordes wants to enable community connection across the Wimmera, and the state, and said the current public transport system does not cut it.
Jeparit resident Fay Gordes wants to enable community connection across the Wimmera, and the state, and said the current public transport system does not cut it.
The current bus system between Horsham and Jeparit makes a round trip each Wednesday and Thursday, is often packed with local students attending VCAL classes, and is not good enough for local residents.
Mrs Gordes and her husband Clive, both in their 70s, would also like to be able to visit family and friends in Melbourne more often that they do now, for the elderly with appointments to be able to easily attend, for people who wanted to visit, study, work or shop to be able to do so.
Her campaign to connect the Wimmera began in October 2023.
“The bus service we have now, on a Wednesday and a Thursday, should be updated to be five days a week so people can have the freedom to go out,” Mrs Gordes said.
“My husband and I like going to Melbourne from time to time, and we find we have to drive to Ararat to get the train.
“I thought ‘Don’t sit back and complain - do something about it’.”
She emailed the Minister for Transport Infrastructure of Victoria, Danny Pearson, copying in Hindmarsh Shire Council mayor Cr Brett Ireland and Member for Lowan Emma Kealy.
“In the recent Jeparit Town Profile 2022, it’s been documented Jeparit is the lowest socio-economic community in Victoria,” she wrote.
“We feel a regular, daily, return public bus service to Horsham would give freedom and opportunity to those who want the chance to connect with a wider community.
“In your Future Direction for Public Transport information, you state buses are a vital part of Victoria’s integrated transport system, also regional intertown routes and regional town networks are vital to bringing together opportunities across the networks.”
Minister Pearson referred Mrs Gordes to the Department of Transport and Planning.
After talking to community members - including Dr Mohamed Mahmoud, who said some patients had difficulty attending appointments in Ballarat or Horsham - and consulting the Town Advisory Committee, Mrs Gordes decided to collect signatures on a petition.
She received around 100 signatures in support of her plea which have been forwarded to Stuart Johns, executive director - model planning.
“It’s impossible often to organise appointments with hospitals to coincide with a Wednesday or a Thursday, with clinics often having days for specialists,” Mrs Gordes said.
Ideally, Mrs Gordes said, she would also like the bus to connect to existing V/Line services.
“I think the Wimmera is being forgotten,” Mrs Gordes said.
“I do think we need to have buses interconnect to get with the future.
“It isn’t just about Jeparit; it’s about everyone in this area - people being able to get out.
“But everything stops at the Grampians.
“People think there is nothing past there, but there is.
“The Wimmera is a beautiful place.”