Someone recently referred to Henty as “The Gopher Capital of N.S.W.” and this could well be the case with around thirty of these motorised scooters now in action around the town. This represents about 1 for every 30 members of the population. When asked what the “gopher” meant to them, the following replies were received:
Reg Piltz - I lost my drivers’ licence after suffering a slight stroke and so had to rely on my wife or friends to drive me everywhere. It has given me back my independence, I can go and watch bowls whenever I want to and generally just take myself wherever I like.
Dawn Rohde - I had to hand in my drivers’ licence because of failing eyesight. Without my gopher, I would have to rely on others to take me anywhere. With it, I retain my independence. I have a large backyard and I even use it to get around and do the watering.
Phyllis Thiele - I have had mine since last November. It means everything to me. I use it to take me to church, to Probus meetings, down to the club and to do my shopping. To me it means freedom and independence.
Jack & Doris Caldwell - Doris had never driven a car and when Jack voluntarily handed in his licence at the end of January, they decided to purchase a machine each. Jack goes to R.S.L. meetings and down to watch bowls and together they go shopping, to church and to Probus. Doris said without them they would be heavily reliant on family members for transport or would be virtually housebound. With them, they have retained their independence.
Email a friend