All aboard: Newstart graduates inspect the program’s new bus.
TOM BENNETT
A GEELONG program keeping at-risk youth out of trouble has a new set of wheels thanks to the children’s charity Variety Australia.
Variety acting chief executive officer Rod Dalglish presented the new Sunshine Coach to Newstart organisers outside Geelong’s City Hall on Wednesday.
Newstart will use the 12-seater vehicle to take program participants on outings and activities.
The program caters for children, often from broken or dysfunctional homes, deemed at risk of running foul of society and the law.
Victoria Police and the Victorian education department run Newstart to offer leadership training, sport activities and other personal development initiatives.
Variety spokesman Kerry Bradley said the $50,000 vehicle was the 151st Sunshine Coach donated to Victorian children’s groups.
“Nationally, the figure is 1202 Sunshine Coaches since the program began in the early 1990s.”
Mr Bradley said the financial support of many people and organisations made the donations possible.
“We run our own fund raising activities like the Variety Big Bash car rally, on an annual basis but we’re also reliant on grants from such organisations as the Bendigo Bank and municipalities such as City of Greater Geelong.”
Mr Bradley said past Sunshine Coach recipients included a wide range of groups and charities caring for neglected, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged young people.
“The Sunshine Coaches get people out and about so that they can connect with the community at large,” he said.
