Wrinklies Express shows off fourth brand new van
Henk Visker shows off the brand new Wrinklies Express eight-seater Kia Carnival.
Last Saturday the Wrinklies Express showed off its brand new eight-seater Kia Carnival van to members, who were all invited to the bowling club for a light celebratory lunch as well.
The new vehicle, which features leather swivel seats and a chair hoist, cost just on $52,000 to put on the road. It was purchased from Kia agent Page Automotive in Nelson and was fitted out by Van Extra in Auckland.
Wrinklies won’t be selling their current vehicle, a 1998 Toyota Lucida, as it will be needed for local trips while the new one ploughs over the Hill. Their return trip to Nelson – $20 suggested koha – is a booming service. Last year they transported 382 members on 203 trips to Nelson, compared to 151 the previous year. Anyone over 50, or who is disabled, is eligible for membership (subs $15 per year), joining the 260 others. Their youngest passenger is just two. Wrinklies is not short on volunteer drivers either: there are now around 25 who can be called upon. Says one of them, Leigh Gamby: “It’s great that it has so many drivers, because it shares the load. And it means every trip is taken by a driver who really wants to do it.”
The credit for starting Wrinklies a decade ago goes to the awesome foursome of Henk Visker, Heather Hovenden, Michael Stayner and Mary Baigent, who all saw that many elderly people in Golden Bay found it extremely hard to get over to hospital appointments or go shopping. They started fundraising in 1999 and bought their first van the following year. Now they’ve just got their fourth. The new van has picked up some signage from new sponsors who have come on board. AMI insurance insures the van for free, which saves the trust just under $1000 per annum, while First National Real Estate used the occasion last Saturday to announce their ongoing sponsorship of $50 from every house sold, which would amount to around a $350 per month contribution from now on. They presented a cheque for the first month’s payment. Other donations that have flowed in over the previous year have come from ITM, BP Takaka, Takaka Fuels and Fishing, Trash Palace, and Anatoki Salmon Farm.
The well-loved nickname for the service came from signwriter Bert Vagenwoort, who after painting the awkward name of ‘Golden Bay Communities Service Trust vehicle’ on the door, put “Wrinklies Express” as a joke underneath. That joke stuck, and today Wrinklies Express is held up as by far the best working example of a community vehicle trust operating in New Zealand.
Gerard Hindmarsh
