General News
12 October, 2024
Cleo clocks up the kilometres
PYRAMID Hill’s Neighbourhood House is proving a formidable friend on behalf of its customers in particular, and the wider community in general. And one of the key services it is now delivering is Cleopatra – the house’s community car, which...
PYRAMID Hill’s Neighbourhood House is proving a formidable friend on behalf of its customers in particular, and the wider community in general.
And one of the key services it is now delivering is Cleopatra – the house’s community car, which has already racked up more than 40,000km taking people on shopping trips, to the hairdressers or to the doctors.
Co-ordinator Kim Bennett says with no doctor in Pyramid Hill, anytime someone who cannot drive needs to meet an appointment it is a trip to Bendigo, Echuca, Swan Hill, Kerang and, often, Melbourne.
Kim says Cleopatra is currently doing around 27 trips a month and is proving a “boon to the town”.
“We have people who have lived here all their lives, and they don’t want to have to leave, to lose their independence and their friends and the homes they have loved all those years,” she says.
“By having access to the car – which costs less than 40 cents a kilometre – they can do the things they need to, or want to, and know they are still part of their community.”
Kim says there is a roster of nine volunteer drivers handling the travel and many of them are going through an upskilling process with training in areas such as first aid.
And they are complemented by the 15 or 16 other volunteers and/or committee members who keep the whole show on the road.
“With no doctor in town anymore, any medical appointment means a trip regardless, but for some of our older residents, just getting the shopping done, or to and from a lunch for a special occasion, the community car makes such a difference,” Kim adds.
“We have a library service, we even have a room for the younger set to use as a hangout, with access to things such as Nintendo and we have the larger room where we run meetings and workshops,” she says.
“The neighbourhood house is compact, but we do the best we can – from the community garden at the front to our little kitchen and our other support services to help as many people as we can.” Murray Plains MP and leader of The Nationals, Peter Walsh, has visited the house to catch up on its progress and see if there was anything he could do it assist its ongoing pivotal role in the small community.
Mr Walsh says for a service running on basically one full-time equivalent staff, the output at the house is “incredible”.
He says that after seeing the importance of Cleopatra to the community he will be looking for ways to help finance its long-term success – and the inevitable replacement a few years down the track.
“This is a service which is really punching above its weight and the range of activities and services it delivers here is amazing,” Mr Walsh added.
“In a little quirk of geography, Pyramid Hill seems to be on the extreme edge of most major government and council authorities, which means they are often left to their own devices,” Mr Walsh said.
“So when you walk through the garden and vegies growing out front, check out the murals painted by PHNH chair Leanne Tealbot, and see how much has been crammed into the building itself you can only admire the work done by Kim and her merry band of staff and helpers.”
The house also looks to involve as many other opportunities as possible – STRIDE Mental Health Services will be visiting there every second Wednesday of the month until the end of the year and people can book in to see one of their counsellors, psychologists or other support workers.
Then there is next month’s Pyramid Hill town and surrounds Trash2Cash garage sale with the house the registration centre for all sale items.
“While we run a good mix of social programs and food support services, we are also a place where if you are just looking for a cuppa and a chat you can drop in and see us,” Kim says.
“Or if you need to do some photocopying, or something online and you aren’t all that computer savvy, or don’t even have a computer, we can help.
“That’s why we are here and that’s why we want to see you.”