DEDICATED Mount Gambier man Llewellyn Jones has been nominated for the Carers SA Carer Achievement Award as part of the 2017 South Australian Community Achievement Awards.
For the last four years, Mr Jones has coordinated the Red Cross transport service for people in the area unable to get around the city independently.
Through coordinating a bus service, Mr Jones has enabled seniors to complete their grocery shopping, enjoy a change of scenery, attend funerals or participate in social excursions.
Carers SA presents the award to celebrate the individual achievement in championing the carer cause to improve the lives of family carers in South Australia.
The project started in the area after the Mount Gambier and District Community Bank branch of Bendigo Bank donated a bus in 2013.
Mr Jones started coordinating trips the following year, creating opportunities for disadvantaged aged people to be active in the social society.
The service runs two weekly shopping trips on Tuesday and Thursday, collecting residents from all aged care facilities in the area, including Port MacDonnell and Millicent.
The program also includes a number of social excursions and day trips to surrounding towns, as well as a funeral service.
Over the years more than 650 people have benefited from the service, with more than 7500 trips amounting to at least 15,500 volunteer hours.
Mr Jones said he was surprised to be nominated for the award.
“I am shocked, I feel very honoured and thank the person who nominated me for this recognition,” he said.
“It is nice to be recognised, but you never expect these things.”
He said the service would not operate without volunteers.
“I have to thank the volunteers, we have a great team of eight people who work hard to get great results,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here today so a big thank you to the volunteers.”
The service is currently in the process of getting another bus on the road to cater for the high demand.
Award finalists and winners will be presented at an awards gala presentation dinner in November 2017.
