SUGARLOAF Creek business The Bush Bus is in the frame for the 7News Community Achievement Awards, which will be awarded in mid-October.
It is up for the Beyond Bank Community Group Award, which recognises organisations who make positive differences in community.
In its submission, The Bush Bus said it was a model which could be taken to communities across the state.
“The idea for The Bush Bus was developed in regional Victoria in 2018, with regular programs commencing in 2019. Rather than establishing a traditional playgroup within four walls and expecting families to come to us, founder Georgina Dymock created a model that could take the playgroup to the community. Everything needed for a Bush Bus session travels in our vans, allowing local parks and open spaces to be transformed into welcoming places for families to gather, play and connect,” the submission read.
“Children participate alongside their parent, carer or grandparent in nature-inspired arts and crafts, mud, water and sensory play, imaginative activities, music, stories and opportunities to discover their local natural environment. There are no enrolment requirements and, through the support of our funding and community partners, there is no cost for families to attend.
“While it may look like a playgroup, The Bush Bus has always been about much more than play. Our mobile model creates a relaxed and accessible meeting place where relationships develop naturally. Children make friends while their adults do too. New residents meet other local families. Parents and carers build informal support networks, and grandparents share experiences with their grandchildren.”
The submission also saw improved demand locally and has delivered approximately 100,000 participants.
“Since commencing regular programs in 2019, we estimate The Bush Bus has delivered approximately 100,000 participant attendances. Our participants are affectionately known as Bush Bus Buddies, and many attend repeatedly over months and years, so this figure represents attendances rather than 100,000 individual people,” the submission read.
“Attendance at individual locations demonstrates the demand for accessible local programs. At The Grove in Tarneit, weekly attendance grew to as many as 60 families. More recently, around 30 families have attended weekly at Wallara Waters, 30 at Mambourin and 45 at Broadford.
“Repeat participation is particularly important to us. Families return week after week, term after term and often with subsequent children. Babies who attended in the early years of The Bush Bus have grown up with the program, with younger siblings later becoming Bush Bus Buddies themselves. These long-term relationships are one of the clearest indications that families see The Bush Bus not simply as an activity, but as part of their community.”
The growth of The Bush Bus has been incredible, given Georgina Dymock and her family also lost their home in a house fire in 2023, yet continued to push on.
