Gazette

Fun on wheels

24th June 2009 02:00:27 AM

A MOBILE youth bus will wheel around a range of fun activities for the shire’s youth, as well as target anti-social behaviour in the hills.

A Nintendo Wii, DVD player, six laptops, board games and arts and craft materials are some of the equipment on the bus which will travel right around the municipality.

Cardinia Shire Central Ward councillor Brett Owen and Minister for Community Development Peter Batchelor officially launched the Mobile Youth Bus (MYBus) at Emerald Secondary College last Friday.

Cr Owen said the bus was a great asset for young people in the municipality.

“We have more than 15,000 young people living in the shire,” he said. “This is going to be a great for our young people, especially those who reside in our rural townships … council’s youth team will use it to get out and about to interact with these young people.”

Emerald College principal Wayne Burgess said the bus would go a long way towards solving problems with anti-social behaviour in the community.

But he said the best part about the initiative was that young people would not have to travel to access the service.

“It comes to them, it’s not dependent on them being able to get there,” he said.

Cr Owen said there was a stack of information brochures aboard the bus which contained advice for young people and promotional material on events and services available in the shire.

Mr Batchelor praised the initiative, saying a bus with youth services was a “great idea”.

Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said the bus would run from Tuesday to Friday, delivering personal development programs in the mornings, lunchtime recreational programs and after school activities.

“Activities will include jewellery making, card games, crafts, sporting and ball games, music and cooking,” she said.

Cr Owen urged the shire’s young people to make MYBus their bus.