Corrigin CRC delivers mobility scooter masterclass

The Corrigin Community Resource Centre hosted a free day of gopher safety instruction at the Corrigin Senior Citizens Centre on Thursday, March 23.

“We’ve done this previously and it’s something that we were asked to do again, so we ran with it,” CRC customer service officer Regan Chester said.

The first session was held in 2020 but COVID-19 prevented the event from taking place again until this year.

“I’m not too sure how it first came about, we had it randomly and it took off,” Ms Chester said.

“Anytime something is on in Corrigin, everyone comes down; it’s a small town and word gets around.”

Ms Chester estimates that around a third of the small Wheatbelt town’s population uses gophers.

“There are a lot, which is good,” she said.

“Obviously when you get older you can’t get around so much and when you rely on people, it gives you your independence back.”

The morning began with a road safety talk provided by Sgt Steve Mynes followed by an information and servicing session run by Steve Wraps from Perth independent living company Daily Living Products.

Guests at the event were able to test drive a range of gophers — an opportunity that, along with servicing, can be difficult for people in rural areas to access.

“We go out to Kellerberin, Merredin, Beverley,” Mr Wraps said.

“We do the servicing of the scooters and sales, make sure the batteries and tyres are good. Tyres are the big thing.”

Mr Wraps said that Daily Living Products was working to deliver better access to independent living aids in rural WA.

“People get to an age when their licence gets taken off them, and in the country, people can live to a great old age. Once you lose your car, scooters can give back confidence and independence,” he said.

“We’ve got guys out here that are over a hundred years old and they’re able to use the scooters to get down to the pub and back — there’s that social aspect that is really important.”