Waiuku Lions Club has long been a friend and supporter of local people with injuries or infirmities which make it difficult for them to fully participate in day-to-day activities. This is why in 1997 the Club assisted with the purchase of the first Lions Club Mobility van. This gave sterling service to many locals over the years until in 2015, as a 50th Anniversary Project, the Club purchased a replacement vehicle which met all current safety regulations. 2024 marks 27 years of Lions involvement with this mobility project.
Waiuku Lions mobility spokesman, Lion Allan Standing , said “The old van was getting long in the tooth and was not easy to drive. The new van is so much better equipped with an easy to operate electric wheelchair lift and can accommodate 1 driver plus 1 powered wheelchair and 5 passengers seated. One additional manual wheelchair can be added if the person is transferred to a seat, with stowage available for the folded chair. We just wish it was used more than it is!”
Locals wishing to make use of the Mobility Van can book through the Waiuku Library. The Lions Club is very grateful for the support given by library staff to this project. Drivers do need to agree to a number of conditions of use, which are not hard to meet. Users are required to replace fuel used and make a donation to Club funds equivalent to the cost of fuel used. There are no other hire charges.
“The van is currently used for only 5 or 6 days a month, on average,” said Allan, “and we would really love to increase that, as it would mean other locals would be getting more freedom from it.”
In addition to the Mobility Van, the Waiuku Lions Club also has 4 mobility scooters available for use by locals who need help getting around. There is a modest weekly charge of $12.50 and these scooters do tend to be in high demand. Availability can be checked through an enquiry made on the Lions Facebook page or by ringing Allan on 0272356031.
