Cycling Without Age Gippsland (CWAG) is continuing to put smiles on the faces of older residents, with another local couple enjoying a free ride along the Esplanade in Lakes Entrance.
The not-for-profit charity chaired by local MP Darren Chester is a new community service that helps to connect those no longer able to ride for themselves with their community by giving them free rides on trishaw e-bikes piloted by volunteer pilots.
Last week, Gippsland Lakes Complete Health (GLCH) home care package recipients Tony and Averil Van Vugt embraced trishaw travel with Darren piloting the pair on a one-hour tour of the Lakes Entrance foreshore.
Tony and Averil enjoyed the CWAG experience and said it was ‘the best day we’ve had in years’.
“It was our privilege to go for a ride; it was brilliant,” Averil said.
“We are so happy we were able to come along.”
Averil was an only child growing up and wasn’t allowed to ride bikes. Both she and Tony couldn’t remember the last time they’d ridden a bike but loved the comfort of the CWAG experience.
Gippsland Lakes Complete Health executive manager Penny Cassidy said GLCH was happy to financially support the charity as it provided opportunities for those receiving aged care services to stay engaged with their community.
“Mobility can be a trigger for people needing more assistance to stay living at home. Initiatives like this ensure that everyone, regardless of age, can have accessible experiences and stay engaged with their community,” she said.
“At GLCH, we are proud to support initiatives that help people stay connected.”
Despite living in Lakes Entrance, the trishaw ride was the Van Vugts’ first visit to the Bullock Island redevelopment.
Tony, who relies on mobility aids as part of his home care package, experienced a significant decline in health following a serious incident in August 2019.
After contracting Influenza A, which led to kidney failure, Tony was airlifted to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.
This event led to an assessment through My Aged Care, resulting in a home care package through GLCH.
Averil praised the quality of care they receive.
“I don’t know where we would be without our packages,” she said.
Darren said anyone interested in booking a ride with CWAG should email the volunteer team at cwagippsland@gmail.com, and they will be contacted when the next rides are planned.
“Bookings are essential at the moment as we train our volunteer pilots and plan more riding opportunities in towns across the region,” Darren said.
“We are off to a good start, and donations from organisations like GLCH have allowed us to get the charity running sooner than we hoped. It’s a lot of fun for everyone involved, and we are helping to reduce the social isolation that some older residents often feel.”
