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Seniors ride fun bus to adventures

As the bus slips through a corridor of colorful autumn leaves, music pours from the vehicle’s CD player and passengers join the driver in an enthusiastic sing-along. The busload of senior citizens motors its way through the Adelaide Hills en route to Australia’s Monarto Zoological Park, where zebras, cheetahs, and giraffes roam free. On the drive home, the group plans to stop in the popular township of Woodside to visit Melba’s Chocolate Factory, where there always are plenty of free samples.

ABOVE: Reflected in their driver’s mirror, senior citizens set out for a tour of South Australia. BELOW: A hoist—as well as air conditioning—is standard equipment on a Kiwanis Bus, which annually carries 600 passengers who use wheelchairs.

On other days, they may ride to the wine country of Barossa Valley, journey to Goolwa to watch whales, or cruise around Adelaide on a Christmas lights tour.

Welcome aboard the Kiwanis Bus, a service offered by Ki9wanis clubs in Division 3, 8, and 10 of the Australia District to provide low-cost outings for nursing home residents, senior citizens, and persons who have disabilities. In the project’s 25 years, Kiwanis Bus has transported more than 125,000 passengers more than 650,000 kilometers, requiring in excess of 80,000 volunteer hours from Kiwanians and other supporters.

“The bus service is unique in that it is managed and supported by all 16 Kiwanis clubs located in and around Adelaide, South Australia,” says Peter Zander, who serves as the project’s honorary treasurer. “It’s a totally volunteer service. The board of management is composed of representatives from a number of the clubs, as well as the three lieutenant governors. Many of the volunteer drivers and driver assistants are Kiwanians too.”

Trips vary from three-hour outings to full-day excursions. Participating Kiwanis clubs also use the vehicle for long-distance inter-clubbing and other extended trips.

Groups pay a small fee to hire the 21-passenger vehicle, because corporate sponsorships and the division’s Kiwanis clubs underwrite much of the program’s expenses.

“Many of the groups that use the bus are regular users,” Peter says. “So a number of the clients know our drivers well and really look forward to chatting with them while seeing the sights or enjoying a nice morning or afternoon tea.”

A comfortable ride, singing, fabulous scenery, and friends: No wonder the passengers dubbed the vehicle the “Kiwanis Fun Bus.”