Bomaderry Nowra Lions Club

Lions Club of Bomaderry Nowra Inc

District 201N2, Gateway to the Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia

Jelly Bean Park 28/08/2025

Presentation of vehicle with a wheelchair entry to local family

A local family approached Bomaderry Nowra Lions requesting assistance in purchasing a vehicle, as their cerebral palsy daughter was becoming too heavy and awkward for her mother to constantly lift in and out of their existing vehicle. A vehicle with a wheelchair entry and exit was required.

The Lions club approached several local car dealers requesting help in obtaining a vehicle. The vehicle needed to be still under new vehicle warranty (of at least 3 years left in the warranty). This was a requirement of the NDIS if they were going to build the modifications to the vehicle for the wheelchair. Lions asked if a car company would help with the supply of the vehicle or whether we had to go through a local dealer. We were offered no assistance from the car companies, and had to rely upon the local dealers. Several models of vehicles were offered as appropriate from the NDIS, and we pursued the local dealers who had these models.

Our local Hyundai dealer (Country Motor Company in Bomaderry) obtained a Staria model, and they offered to assist us with the purchase of the Staria. The model of Staria selected although the base model was a model with full windows, air conditioning and other family comforts. Bomaderry Nowra Lions offered $15 000, we approached Lions Australia for further assistance, and granted us another $15 000, and the family were happy to fund a $20 000 loan to raise a total of $50 000. Country Motors donated the balance of the vehicle.

The vehicle was then picked up by a NDIS accredited vehicle modifier in Queensland to do the modifications for the wheelchair to access the vehicle. The Queensland company brought a ‘loaner vehicle’ similar to the completed new family vehicle to be used by the family until their vehicle was completed. Upon completion of the family’s vehicle by the NDIS company, the vehicle was returned to the family. The family are extremely pleased with finished product!!

Bomaderry Nowra Lions gathered to view the finished vehicle and to take a few photos. We were all thoroughly amazed at the completed vehicle, and very excited to see that the young girl was housed in the middle of the second row of seats amongst her family, and not at the back of the vehicle as in past wheelchair accessible vehicles. Our further pleasure came to see the girl’s 10year old brother loading and unloading his sister. The anchoring points were fully accessible and very secure.

Bomaderry Nowra Lions are very proud to be associated with this project for this very deserving family. We wish to acknowledge and thank Lions Australia, County Motor Company Bomaderry, and the company that completed the modifications to vehicle under the NDIS, for their invaluable assistance.