All is ‘Rosie’ as new bus offers service

Miss Rosie, as she has been christened, took her first official spin around the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes on Friday.

Celebrant Pat Stieg led an official ceremony to bless the $170,000 Fuso Rosa diesel bus, which replaces an older model, at a gathering in Bridgetown’s town square.

Helping to fund the bus was Talison Lithium Greenbushes, which matched a $53,333 Lotterywest grant towards the cost with the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire Council providing the other third.

“With the help of Lotterywest and Talison Lithium it’s made it possible for us to upgrade to a better bus,” shire president Tony Pratico said.

He said the subsidised bus was an important service for younger and older residents unable to drive themselves, providing a fortnightly round trip from Greenbushes to Bridgetown.

Cr Pratico cut a ribbon to launch the bus before council and community representatives hopped aboard and travelled to Greenbushes for morning tea.

Miss Rosie seats 20 people including a driver, or 16 with a wheelchair, and has an internal wheelchair hoist, making it easier for less mobile passengers to board and leave the bus.

Joan Leader, who was at Friday’s gathering with fellow shire access and inclusion committee member Bronwyn Mitchell, said the new bus was welcome.

“It’s most important because we have three people at the moment that I know of around town that use wheelchairs.”