Charlotte Varcoe
THE future of the Port MacDonnell senior citizens centre may be up in the air with many members finding transport to the centre difficult.
Citizens centre president Joy Braithwaite said there were only three members at the centre who currently lived in Port MacDonnell with the others travelling from Mount Gambier/Berrin.
She said due to a lack of public transport from Mount Gambier/Berrin to the seaside town, members had resorted to car pooling but there were concerns about how long it could last.
“We have 18 members and there are three members from Port MacDonnell which means 15 of us come down every week on a Tuesday to support the centre,” Ms Braithwaite said.
“We used to have the Red Cross bus but when the prices went up we could not afford it.
“We said we would car pool instead because there is no public transport from Mount Gambier to Port MacDonnell.”
She said with many members being around the age of 80, car pooling was only a temporary solution.
“Something has to replace this carpooling because if those from Mount Gambier cannot make it then there are only three members and they cannot sustain the centre themselves,” Ms Braithwaite said.
“The senior citizens centre still has insurance to pay, electricity prices and so the whole thing would close and that would be a real shame.”
She said those travelling from Mount Gambier/Berrin would often take turns to carpool to Port MacDonnell but remained concerned should some members be unable to drive in the future.
“Most of our members live alone and so they enjoy the card playing with our competition as it keeps their minds active,” she said.
“We are here to be social and if there were public transport coming from Mount Gambier to Port MacDonnell it would make a real difference and it could attract more members.”
Ms Braithwaite said there was one member who lived alone in Cape Douglas and was unable to drive a car.
“Her husband passed away and she does not drive so now she is going to be put into a home because there is no way she can get to the club unless someone picks her up,” she said.
“We need public transport or someone to go around and pick up all these people and bring them down.
“It would break a lot of people’s hearts if that club room closed as we also have a local doctor who comes down once a week so if the building closes he might have to close too.”
Ms Braithwaite said should any community groups be able to help, to contact the Port MacDonnell Senior Citizens Club.
