Service turns 100

Travellers Aid Australia is turning 100 and Benalla woman Betty Wallace said she would be lost without their service.

As a diabetic Ms Wallace regularly takes the train to Melbourne for medical appointments.

Each time she arrives at Southern Cross Station she is met with a friendly face using Travellers Aid Australia’s Buggy and Personal Guidance service to get where she needs to be.

‘‘I ring up a couple of days before and then when the train comes in I have a number and they come to the station and meet me and the same coming back at night,’’ Ms Wallace said.

‘‘I get to Melbourne and they’ll take me to the tram stop.

‘‘I have a walker and they put the walker on and if there is any luggage they carry it on.’’

Ms Wallace said travelling down to Melbourne would not be possible without their help.

‘‘I wouldn’t survive without them,’’ she said.

‘‘If I went to Heidelberg where my friend is and I tell them I’m coming back at 3 pm, they’ll be there to meet me on the suburban lines and take me back.

‘‘If I want to go to the toilet they’ll put me in their disability toilet.

‘‘They do have a service there to take you to the doctors . . . if I wanted to and I had no-one with me I could ask them to come with me.’’

Ms Wallace had nothing but praise for the not-for-profit organisation that has been helping people since 1916.

‘‘They’re really good, they’ve helped me out every way which,’’ she said. ‘‘They are wonderful people. ‘‘I’ve had no hiccups and I know them all and they know me.’’

For more information about Travellers Aid Australia and the services they offer, visit www.travellersaid.org.au

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