Rotary Club reinstates Hervey Bay sleeper bus after five months down

The Hervey Bay sleeper bus will be back up and operating soon but the new organisers say they need volunteers to help make it work.

The Z Bus will return to Hervey Bay on August 1

The Hervey Bay sleeper bus will return to the city for the first time since February after its parent company collapsed earlier this year.

Taken on by the Hervey Bay Rotary Club and reimagined as “Z Bus”, the service will run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for community members struggling to find a safe place to sleep.

In January, the original charity that ran the project, Sleepbus, announced it would be shutting down due to rising costs on purchasing and maintaining the buses.

The new project’s administrator, who volunteered on the bus before it was shut down, Kelly Thumath, says it has been “resurrected” after five months out of service.

“It was going to such good use helping the homeless, domestic violence victims, and people who couldn’t rent and were sleeping in their cars,” Ms Thumath said.

A concept of what the new sponsorship decals will look like once they are complete.

A new owner and new sponsors have allowed volunteers to conduct proper maintenance of the bus, with one service costing $11,000.

“There was a hell of a lot of money and work needed, but we had a lot of sponsors that have done that for us,” she said.

“We’re almost ready to relaunch, which is fantastic.”

New decals and exterior works for the bus are expected to finish this week.

The refurbished interior will still house eight private pods for those in need, while the service will be carried out at Apex Park in Pialba.

Volunteers are the next thing needed to give the bus a fighting chance of staying operational in Hervey Bay, with Ms Thumath saying helpers do not need to showcase any special abilities.

“All volunteers need is enthusiasm and compassion.”

The old sleep bus is currently undergoing a cosmetic transformation to get new sponsor stickers.

The role of the caretaker is vital according to Ms Thumath, and requires volunteers to supervise the bus during the night by communicating to the pods via a radio when necessary.

Residents with a medium rigid vehicle licence are also invited to volunteer so the bus can be transported to and from Apex Park.

The bus will begin its first service since February on Friday, August 1.

If you think volunteering with the Z Bus team could be for you, send them an email at [e-mail]