CARAVAN and tourist parks in Victoria are welcoming holidaymakers who
depend on dialysis machines to stay alive.
In a world first, Kidney Health Australia (KHA) is operating a mobile
dialysis unit which visits the state's holiday spots, enabling kidney
disease patients and their families the freedom to travel.
Hundreds of sufferers have already taken advantage of the Big Red Kidney
Bus which contains three dialysis machines.
The vehicle spends six weeks in caravan parks at popular locations, giving
patients the opportunity to enjoy a holiday while receiving dialysis
treatment as required.
BIG4 Mildura Deakin Holiday Park manager Liam Curran told
Caravanning News he was "very pleased" to be having the bus return to
his park again this year.
"When we were asked if we would like to accommodate it last year, we
couldn’t say yes quick enough," he said.
'What a difference it has made
being able
to take a holiday'
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"Having a close family member who is on dialysis three days a week, we've
seen the restraints it puts on her and her family when it comes to wanting
a holiday.
"One person last year likened it to be a prisoner in their own town, until
the bus came along."
Mr Curran said his holiday park wanted to show its support for the "fantastic initiative".
"We see the dialysis patients who have stayed with us and how happy they
were and what a difference it had made to their lives being able to take a
holiday," he added.
Another park to host the Big Red Kidney Bus is the BIG4 Grampions Parkgate
Resort at Halls Gap in Victoria.
Manager Kathy Sommerville commented: "We had the Big Red Kidney Bus here
last year and it is such a great initiative.
"All the staff were so caring and amazing and it is so good to see
families being able to have a holiday together ... something some of them
haven't been able to do for years.
"We offer discounted prices for patients, their families and the bus staff
and are really looking forward to its return and hopefully some of the
families who visited us last year."
The service, which has received a National Disability Award, has been offered at Bright, Ebden, Halls Gap, Lakes Entrance, Mallacoota,
Mildura and Phillip Island.
KHA chief executive and managing director Anne Wilson said the bus had allowed over 300
Australians on dialysis to take a holiday and well-deserved break.
For many, it had been their first holiday "in a very long time" ... and in
a few cases their first ever.
"Due to the success and impact of the first Big Red Kidney Bus, KHA is
committed to a national expansion programme which will ultimately see each
state of Australia equipped with a Big Red Kidney Bus," she added.
Parks to be visited this year include BIG4 Whiters Holiday Village, BIG4
Mildura Deakin Holiday Park, Echuca Holiday Park, BIG4 Grampions Parkgate
Resort and Lorne Foreshore Caravan Park.
