ABC #402

OPERATOR
SLEEPBUS.ORG
BUS
ORIGINS
1. Laundry Bus – Dineen Group
2. Original prototype sleepbus
and now Canberra Pink
sleepbus – Dineen Group
3. Melbourne Pink sleepbus –
Kastoria
4. Queanbeyan sleepbus –
private individual donor
5. sleepbus health – private
purchase; previously Red
Cross blood-donor vehicle
(from the 1980s)
6. Workshop bus – ex-Winton
Raceway, ex-Bendigo
Transit bus
7. Maroochydore sleepbus –
Buslink Queensland
we can raise the necessary funds
to build more Sleepbuses for
operation in Sydney, Byron Bay
(NSW), Brisbane, Gold Coast (QLD),
Adelaide (SA), Perth (WA) and more
in Melbourne,” Rowe stated.
“What is needed for this to
happen, as with all things, are the
funds and suitable buses – all of
which we are confident we can
bring in.
“The pandemic has certainly
caused tremendous financial strain
on people and families, the biggest
cause of homelessness, so the
need is [there] and will continue to
increase for some time to come.
“On the other hand, speaking for
the Victorian government, every
Above:
CEO Simon Rowe
was inspired to start
the venture to help
somebody who
needed a place to
sleep.
Below:
Sleepbus was the
winner of the 2017
Telstra Victorian
Charity of the Year
award.
rough sleeper here has been offered
hotel accommodation. Obviously
this can’t last, but it has been a
fantastic initiative.
“Covid permitting [Victoria was
heading back into a snap lockdown
as this was written] we will launch
the Queanbeyan Service in March
2021; the pink sleepbus services for
Canberra and Melbourne in June/
July and the Maroochydore and
sleepbus health services towards
the end of the year.
HURDLES AND HICCUPS
The top three challenges – global
pandemics aside – that Sleepbus
faces are: raising funds to build
buses, finding sponsors for the
services, and finding suitable
buses that are of roadworthy
condition and not full of rust,
Rowe explained.
“I say biggest challenges
because they are; however, to date
we have managed this ok. We’ve
had great support and, fingers
Simply not having to sleep outside in the
elements and worrying about your safety through
the night ... it makes a huge difference.
crossed, this will only increase
with momentum and increased
awareness of the Sleepbus charity
and the service it provides,” he
added.
“I think ‘sleepbus health’ will
be a fantastic add-on initiative to
Sleepbus for our guests and, going
well, we will look to build additional
sleepbus health vehicles for other
states.”
So does Rowe take pride in all
he and the sleepbus team have
achieved?
“I’m not sure I’m at the
proud state yet; there’s still a
lot to do,” he answered. “I have
pretty high standards and lofty
goals.”
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ABC February 2021 busnews.com.au