Bus builds community

Chris Livermore’s striking artwork Wamalla is the bright new symbol of a partnership between Hills Community Aid and Nulawala.

Elder Bryan Boney with the new community bus. Pictures: Peter Kelly

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Chris Livermore’s striking artwork Wamalla (run with fire) is the bright new symbol of a partnership between Hills Community Aid and indigenous organisation Nulawala.

The Gamilaroy artist’s depiction of a goanna was painted to honour elders past and present and has been wrapped around a new community bus, which has been commissioned to serve communities in The Hills and neighbouring council areas of Hawkesbury, Blacktown and Parramatta.

David Armstrong and Seven Hills state Liberal MP Mark Taylor.

The bus will ferry around participants involved in Nulawala programs and will also be available for use by community groups with all money ploughed back into the service.

Hills Community Aid already has a 24-seater bus which it runs as a community bus service and was keen to expand its social enterprise program.

Indigenous elders welcomed Mitchell federal Liberal MP Alex Hawke and Seven Hills state Liberal MP Mark Taylor to the launch of the social enterprise scheme last Monday at The Hills Community Aid Centre on Windsor Rd.

Hills Community Aid chief executive Ben Jackson said it was exciting to be developing a program with community transport at its heart.

Hills Community Aid chief executive Ben Jackson, Seven Hills state Liberal MP Mark Taylor, David Armstrong and Elder Bryan Boney.

“Addressing transport barriers for those people in our community that need it most is an important part of this partnership,” Mr Jackson said.

Stage two will see the Nulawala bus used as part of a training program designed to teach people to drive.

David Armstrong from Nulawala and the One Good Day Choir said the self sustainability project was a first for Nulawala.

The new community bus.

“(It will) keep the culture alive and see our indigenous families leading the way in building a better community,” he said.

He said participants could also gain their driving licence as a “pathway to better jobs”.

To find out more about Hills Community Aid, visit hca.org.au