For clients from all walks of life who enjoy active, independent living, Stryder provides a friendly and flexible transport service for weekly shopping trips, medical appointments, visiting friends or relatives and those all important social adventures beyond your own doorstep. There is simply no reason to be stuck at home.
Volunteer driver, Ian Dear explains, "Two popular activities are our weekly shopping trips to Macquarie Centre, Cox's Road Shops and Gladesville Shopping Village and our social day trips. Next week we'll be going for a scenic drive to Picton for lunch at the historic Razorback Inn, meander up the coast to the Mingara Recreation Club at Tumbi Umbi and have an old-fashioned picnic in a local park."
Stryder is not only about transport for people who might need flexible, on demand access in a bus that has been modified to suit their abilities, it is also about the volunteers who play a huge role in the service they provide.
The dedicated, fifteen 'league-of-nations' volunteer drivers have backgrounds from Afghanistan, Japan, Malaysia, China, England, Canada and, of course, Australia. They have transported over 40,000 passengers, clocking over 17,000 hours and 235,000kms, with their MVD ('Most Valuable Driver') covering over 30,000kms!
"I've been volunteering for over 10 years and I find being a volunteer driver immensely rewarding. On Mondays I drive one of Stryder's smaller buses for the residents at Hunters Hill Lodge and on Wednesdays I drive Stryder's Flexiride shuttle bus. Hearing client stories and sharing in their lives is very satisfying for me - and based on our client satisfaction rating of 92%, for them too. We are working on the last 8%," smiles Ian.
Stryder's costs are subsidised for clients referred through My Aged Care, NDIS participants, those who have Home Care packages and others who may be experiencing reduced mobility. If you would like to give one of Stryder's* outings a trial, mention this article, and subject to availability, they will give you a trial trip for just $15. Their social calendar is available at www.stryder.org.au.
* social trips recommencing once COVID-19 crisis is over.
Stryder also provides over 6,000 group bus
hires for local businesses, corporates and community groups like Probus, retirement villages, churches and schools per year. These clients value using Stryder, not just because they are a reliable and professional service, but because they know that hire funds are re-invested to support their communities.
If you would like to 'Go places' with people who count, are interested in rewarding voluntary work as a driver or bus/office assistant, Stryder
would love to hear from you. Contact them via
www.stryder.org.au, email info@stryder.org.au
or phone their friendly staff on 9816 5000.
