Riding shotgun: Resident Ada Werner and physiotherapist Rebecca Cladingboel going for a ride on the new wheelchair transport bike.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Echuca Community for the Aged has begun rolling out its new wheelchair bike to give residents at Wharparilla Lodge a new lease on life.
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The wheelchair transport bike allows residents who can no longer ride a bike or walk long distances to leave the facility and get fresh air.
Moama Bowling Club and Echuca Community for the Aged’s Auxiliary purchased the bike for Wharparilla Lodge, and they fundraised for it after some staff suggested the idea.
Wharparilla Lodge physiotherapist and cyclist Rebecca Cladingboel has been riding around with the residents over the summer and spoke about the benefits it brings to their lives.
“Cycling gives you freedom and fresh air so the residents get to experience that now, too,” she said.
“We ride on the bike track just outside the facility to give them the freedom to be away from the facility and to experience normality for a little while.
“It’s really nice for them to get out in the community and see other people.”
Since they began running the rides, a few residents have taken to them, including 101-year-old Ada Werner, who is currently the oldest resident at Wharparilla Lodge.
Still going strong: Ada Werner is the oldest resident at Wharparilla lodge at 101, but that doesn’t stop her going for a ride every chance she gets.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Ms Werner enjoys getting out and about as much as she can, as it reminds her of when she used to ride.
“I really enjoy going out on the new bike,” she said.
“Most of us when we were younger had a bike that we liked to ride, so it brings back those memories, which is good.”
Ms Cladingboel rides the bike with the residents every Wednesday, which allows her to engage with them in a different way than normal and spurs interesting conversations.
Wharparilla Lodge is seeking volunteers to ride the bike so they can use it more often.
“It’s a half-hour bike ride, so it’s a great way to get to know the residents. I’ve had many beautiful conversations,” she said.
“We are looking to get some volunteer riders so the residents can get out on it more because they would ride on it every day if they could.”
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