KOORIE elders from across the Latrobe Valley will no longer have to hire a bus for their regular trips and get-togethers, following support from the Traralgon South community.
The township had been donated an 11-seat bus in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires by a mining company in Western Australia, with help from the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund.
“Then, the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund was offering grants and we were successful in getting a new 12-seat bus,” Traralgon South and District Association president Chris Madsen said.
On Friday, the community handed over the keys to its “spare” bus to the Koorie elders group.
“For them, it’s reducing the cost of hiring a bus and gives them flexibility,” Mr Madsen said.
Elder Alexis Atkinson said the bus would allow the group to travel further.
“We can go anywhere we want and even go and set up a stall to sell our artefacts,” she said.
“It’s going to be used really well, it’s just great.”
Meanwhile, the new Traralgon South bus will be available to community members and sporting clubs.
