Plans are well underway for St John of God Halswell having it’s own customised Tandem Quadricycle for residents and families to use in and around the facility. The idea was floated 3 months ago and has steadily gained support. City Putt and Cruisers (near the Margaret Mahey Playground) have kindly loaned one of their 4 wheeler bike cruisers for staff and residents at SJOG to trial before purchasing their own bike.
The majority of funds for the tandem cycle has already been raised - thanks to the generous support of Foodstuffs Trust and New World Wigram. A second-hand bike has initially been secured and will be arriving from Oamaru. Des Thomson, Halswell Menzshed Steering Committee member had kindly offered to pick it up on his way through from Invercargill, and sees this as an exciting project for the Menzshed.
Retrofitting the purchased tandem cycle with equipment to enable a wider range of residents to enjoy the biking will be the next task.
Screams of laughter could be heard as residents and staff cycled around the corridors of St John of God, while others tested the bike out on the road. “We had to see if we could make it over the over-bridge heading towards Wigram - it was definitely a 4 person job to get to the top - but we did it.” says one staff member..
Watch this space.
