Wednesday December 4. Weather forecast is ideal: sunny and a top temperature of 21 degrees. Hope to see you there!
Warrnambool’s first Wheelie Convoy will take to the Promenade on Wednesday, December 4.
People with wheelie walkers, wheelchairs, mobility scooters or trikes are invited to join the convoy, which aims to encourage people to get social, get active and make the most of the accessible infrastructure along Warrnambool’s foreshore.
“This is a great opportunity for those who use mobility aids to get together, take on a physical challenge and celebrate afterwards,” Archie Graham Community Centre Coordinator Community Programs Clare Vaughan said.
“And perhaps it could be the start of a new routine for some participants who might want to form a group and travel along the Promenade on a more regular basis.
“We look forward to being able to showcase the improved accessibility of the foreshore and Lake Pertobe while highlighting the fact that there are a lot of people already active using their scooters, wheelie walkers and wheelchairs in this area, but there’s a lot of scope for increased use.
“If this inaugural wheelie convoy is a success we’ll do it again next year and perhaps even make an attempt at breaking the Australian record, which currently stands at 170 mobility scooters and wheelchairs and is held by the Fraser Coast Regional Council.”
The Wheelie Convoy starts in front of the Pavilion Cafe (full course) or Worm Bay (short course).
The convey will conclude at Lake Pertobe with a free barbecue and live music.
Heatherlie Homes resident Mieke Van Zelst was the first person to register, and encouraged others to do the same, with the first 100 people to sign up receiving a free coffee voucher.
“I think it’s great. And it shows that we don’t sit in chairs all the time. We do get out quite a bit,” she said.
“I’m first in line with my coffee, so that will be lovely.
“You can’t beat this place, the beach here.”
Fellow Heatherlie resident Stuart Godkin is part of a group that goes on outings on their electric scooters each Monday.
“We go to the gardens, Fletcher Jones, any place that interests,” he said.
“Lately we’ve been down to the breakwater every Monday, which is a 7.2km round trip.
“We’ve been watching the fishermen trying to catch fish and yesterday was the first time we saw a fish caught.”
He said that he was looking forward to joining an even larger group for the convoy.
“I think it will be interesting to see the large number of scooters converging on there,” he said.
“You get out in the salt air, Warrnambool is a wonderful place.”
Find out more and register or phone the Archie Graham Community Centre on 5559 4920.