Campaign continues: Russell Mowatt, Betty Barned and Michelle Minchew think it's time for a bus service in Woodend. Picture: Matthew Furneaux
A WOODEND community campaign to get a bus service for the town is gaining momentum.
A petition with 1000 signatures has been presented to Northern Victoria MP Donna Petrovich to hand to Transport Minister Terry Mulder.
The campaign was started in March by 82-year-old Betty Barned, who lives on Mount Macedon Road, about four streets from the Woodend central business district.
She has a 33-year-old car that she relies on for trips in and out of town.
"I am better off than most because I have a car," she says, "but many don't. If my car gives out, I wouldn't have a hope of walking into town for my shopping or medical appointments."
Mrs Barned says more petitions are circulating in the town.
She says the next step in the campaign is to conduct a survey to find who would use a bus service.
"Kyneton is trialling a bus, Gisborne has a bus, and poor old Woodend in the middle has nothing."
Russell Mowatt, president of the Public Bus Service Group for Macedon Ranges, said if the campaign was successful, the service would be similar to the existing bus service in Gisborne.
He said it would start as a trial for 18 months and then be reviewed.
"It would service a range of the demographic profile of the community, from young people to working and elderly residents.
"It would be used in peak periods, like morning and afternoon, to run people in and around town, to the medical centre, chemist and the shops."
About 7000 passengers use the Gisborne bus service each month.
The public bus group is also pushing for a bus service in Macedon.