The ‘McBean Mobile’: Resident funds new Barrabill House bus

“I’m not getting any younger, so I thought I’d better do something that I might get some pleasure out of, as well as others,” the 94-year-old said.

“To be honest, I wanted to give it to this place.”

Mr McBean, a retired local police officer, has called Barrabill House home for about five years.

He said talk of the bus had been ongoing for some time.

To give back, he funded the new vehicle entirely out of his own pocket.

Leisure and lifestyle co-ordinator Nicole Morgan said it would be invaluable to the Barrabill House community, who previously relied on a bus used by the social support team, which was often available only on weekends.

“It’s heaven to be able to just go and grab the bus if we want to do an impromptu trip to get coffees and go to the park,” she said.

“We can do that now, whereas previously we couldn’t because we didn’t have much access to the other bus.”

Procured by Seymour Toyota, the bus is one of the last of its kind in the country.

The local car dealership was instrumental in arranging for the correct vehicle to be transported to Barrabill House from northern NSW.

Barrabill House’s Susan Parker said Mr McBean wanted to ensure the model of the bus would suit everyone using it.

“When Ian first came to me about getting a bus, he was adamant that it had wheelchair access, even though he doesn’t require wheelchair access,” she said.

“He wanted the other residents to be able to enjoy it and get out.”

The bus has been in action for three weeks, and has already taken residents on trips to local parks, and even to Nagambie.

The team is now planning larger trips and more frequent outings over the coming weeks, with Mr McBean saying he was looking forward to returning to Nagambie on a sunny day for a picnic by the lake.

They’re also planning on naming the vehicle.

“I really think it should have ‘McBean Mobile’ written on it,” Ms Morgan said.