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The Story of DARTS
Disabled Alternative Road Travel Service, DARTS,
operates in the north east areas of Sydney and provides accessible
door-to-door transport for adults with physical disabilities who
use wheelchairs. DARTS is a unique service in Sydney.
DARTS started as the suggestion of a volunteer,
became a reality because of the drive and tenacity of its first
committee and has been able to operate for 25 years through the
support of volunteers, HACC and local government funding and sponsors.
The story of DARTS is a demonstration of what can be achieved in
the community by people pulling together.
In 1979 there used to be a volunteer organisation
in Chatswood called Helpmates. This group was active in the community
assisting people who were aged or who had disabilities.
One of the Helpmates volunteers had the idea
of acquiring a specially modified vehicle to provide transport for
people who used wheelchairs.
Marie King, herself a wheelchair user, was the
administrative assistant for Helpmates and organised a meeting on
3 July 1979 with a number of interested people including healthcare
professionals and Jo Marnie who was an alderman on Willoughby Council.
The meeting felt that there was a great need
for a Dial-a-Bus service that would provide transport for people
who could not use public transport and would give them a certain
amount of independence in choosing where they wanted to go.
The inaugural meeting of D.A.R.T.S. the Disabled
Alternative Road Travel Service was held in October of 1979 and
this was followed, in November, by a public meeting attended by
people with disabilities, MPs, healthcare professionals and representatives
from organisations for people with disabilities. The then Member
for Willoughby, Eddie Britt, was also very supportive of the new
service.
Marie King became DARTS first President and
was the driving force in establishing the service together with
Brian McLeod another ‘wheelie’ who was on the Committee in the early
days. Max Menzies, an alderman on Willoughby Council, was also on
the first Committee and he still actively supports DARTS and assists
at the AGM every year. A newsletter called the ‘Newswheel’ was started
and it is still produced quarterly. Top of Page 
DARTS became a registered charity in March of
1980 and this meant that fundraising could officially begin. In
May Turramurra Rotary Club made the decision to take on the daunting
task of raising $16,000 for the first bus. That was a lot in those
days…… today’s price is about $90,000!
One of the fundraising activities was a sale
of bottles of wine that were specially labelled for DARTS. This
fundraising idea was to be repeated in 2004, as a 25th
Anniversary fundraiser.
In early 1981, McDonalds at Cremorne, in conjunction
with DARTS and the Lower North Shore Disabled Persons’ Action Group,
launched a campaign to raise $20,000 for a modified bus through
the sale of vouchers. They were supported by North Sydney, Mosman,
Lane Cove and Willoughby Councils. The campaign was kicked off with
a donation of $4,000 from North Sydney Council presented by the
Mayor of North Sydney, Alderman Ted Mack. This money was part of
the proceeds from the sale of the Mayoral Mercedes. It was a wheels
for wheels day - putting luxury wheels towards community transport.
A charity barometer was displayed on the roof of McDonalds showing
the progress towards the $20,000 target! Top of Page
Turramurra Rotary Club had raised enough funds
and a Toyota Coaster complete with sign writing was presented to
Marie King, Max Menzies and Jo Marnie on 30th June.
Over the next few months modifications were
made to accommodate 5 wheelchairs and the hoist was added. The air
conditioning and seat belts were funded by the 365 Friendship Centre
of Chatswood. Top of Page
The first outing was organised to visit the
Independent Living Centre at Ryde on 16 November 1981. Jo Marnie
was the driver. To add to the excitement, a crew from Channel O
happened to be filming at the Independent Living Centre that day
and the DARTS group were filmed disembarking from the bus. The film
appeared on the programme SCOOP a couple of weeks later. Another
outing soon after scored some coverage on TV on the Channel 7 News.
In 1982 DARTS became incorporated as a company
limited by guarantee. So now everything was ready to go and with
limited funding from Willoughby Council, local organisations and
individuals the planned transport scheme could be established. Top of Page 
Marie and Brian McLeod
Trips were organised to shopping centres, restaurants,
Paddy’s Market, football matches, cinemas, sight seeing and regular
trips to Royal North Shore Hospital for swimming.
Lower North Shore Disabled Persons Action Group
purchased DARTS second bus after completing the project to raise
funds that was commenced by McDonalds. This bus was modified to
take three wheelchairs and was presented to DARTS to "manage"
in 1983.
The ‘fleet’ also had a third vehicle, a Holden
Shuttle van, that was owned by Helpmates but managed by DARTS.
In the early days the service was run entirely
by volunteers who worked as drivers, helpers, in the office and
on the Committee.
The organisation operated out of 1 Dalton Street
in Chatswood until 1986 when it moved into the newly built Dougherty
Community Centre. Willoughby Council has generously donated this
office space to DARTS right up to the present day.
Some of the fuel and running costs were funded
by donations from a few of the local councils but funding for a
paid driver and a paid co-ordinator was badly needed and proved
to be elusive despite applications being made to the State Government.
Eventually in 1985 funding was obtained from
the Community Employment Programme for a full-time driver and a
full-time co-ordinator. Zivko Rakic was appointed as driver and
Patricia Jankovic as co-ordinator.
This funding, however, was only for a year and
in January 1986 DARTS had again to go it alone. Fortunately there
were sufficient funds to be able to retain Zivko as driver and to
employ a part-time co-ordinator, Valerie Top of Page
It was not until July 1986 that security was
finally brought to the service when the Government granted recurrent
funding from the Home and Community Care (HACC) Programme for the
driver and co-ordinator. This financial support brought stability
to the service.
In 1987, Valerie Neill was appointed to the
staff and stayed for nine years steering the wheel. Also that year,
one-off HACC funding was received for a new bus to replace the first
one and it was launched by Ron Mulock MP, NSW Deputy Premier and
Minister of Transport.
Over the next few years a number of increases
in HACC funding were approved to provide wages for casual bus drivers
and for more office staff. DARTS is still funded through the HACC
Programme for staff wages only. Top of Page
In the early day DARTS was often recognised
as the leader in community transport. Our driver testing program
was started in 1987 many years before the Department of Transport
driver accreditation was introduced. DARTS ran first aid courses,
volunteer courses, member seminars, surveys etc, all years before
the Department of Transport and Community Transport Organisation
guidelines assisted all groups to run more effectively.
Over the years a number of awards have been
given to the organisation and to its Presidents in recognition of
its status in the community. These included the Sydney Morning Herald’s
inaugural Community Service Award, the St George Australia Day Council
Community Award and the Willoughby Citizen of the Year to Presidents
Marie King and Lena Monaco. Our volunteers have also received awards
from local councils. Top of Page 
Over the 80’s and early 90’s DARTS operated
two buses but in 1995 the service expanded with the purchase of
a third bus.
A range of educational opportunities with transport
have been organised over the years. The members have tried horticulture,
microwave-cooking and computer classes and craft and health workshops.
Since 1989 transport has been provided to a regular art class for
people with disabilities including mouth artists.
A weekly yoga class for DARTS members was introduced
in 2000. There are now twelve participants who are assisted by volunteers
on a one to one basis. They gain increased muscle tone and an improved
sense of emotional, physical and mental well-being from practicing
the stretching, breathing and relaxing techniques.
Another service that developed from Helpmates
was North Shore Recreation Network which later came under the auspice
of Baptist Community Services and is now part of their Lifelinks
programme. DARTS still hires a bus to this service. Since the 1980’s
buses have also been hired to nursing homes and currently eight
homes hire a bus for monthly trips.
In 2000, a Work for the Dole Scheme was set
up and the participants assist the drivers with loading and assist
the members on the trips.
Local Councils fund bus running costs through
grants and other donations are received from time to time. Recent
major grants have been donated by the NRMA, the Paul Newman Foundation
and the Help Street Foundation (which is based in Chatswood). Top of Page
Over the years many volunteers and staff have
worked hard in providing trips for the members of DARTS. There are
too many to mention but all have played their part. There have been
six Presidents, Marie King, Mark Aynsley, Anne Patterson, Patricia
Knox, Lena Monaco and Margot Eassie. Warwick Reynolds was Secretary
for many years and also took responsibility for bus purchases. Treasurers
have been Cath Town, Lloyd Aston, Bess Rosen and currently Adrian
Webster. Volunteer drivers have included Lowell Shoobert, David
Kluger, Morrie Williams, Arthur Currie, Sue Prell, Robert Oastler,
Bill Mitchell, Douglas Lam, Len Datson, Bill Rietdyk and Bert Oosterhoff
(now a paid driver). There have been three drivers who have been
employed for over ten years. Barbara Storey started as a volunteer
driver in 1992 and is now a paid driver. Fay Monteleone was a driver
from 1993 to 2003, holding the key role of full-time driver for
eight of those ten years. John Ellis started as a volunteer driver
in 1992 and then became a casual driver until 2002. Val Adams, Val
Neill, Dita Evans and Debbie Gartrell have each worked in the office
for over six years. All have shown exceptional commitment to DARTS.
DARTS is an organisation where strong bonds
of friendship and respect are built. 1992 was an exciting year when
there was an outbreak of three cases of wedding fever. Two members
Clinton and Christa became Mr and Mrs Bissaker, two volunteers June
Ellis and Bill Bellinger, who had met at DARTS, married and Dita
from the office also married all in the same year!
Two service groups the North Shore B’Nai B’rith
and the Kiwanis both lend their support by putting on barbecues
for the members.
Trish Knox on the hoist with a group of
Members and Volunteers Top of Page
DARTS now has 3 buses, about 80 members and
over 50 volunteers who assist at the venues with shopping, meals
and as companions.
Willoughby Council donates the office at the
Dougherty Community Centre and the parking for the buses at its
depot at Artarmon.
The monthly programme of recreational and social
trips sent to members is called the ‘Roundabout’ as it has been
for many years. The programme includes shopping, barbecues, theatres,
restaurants, picnics, drives, films, sporting events, sailing on
the harbour, river cruises, art galleries, craft shows, trips to
visit beaches or parks, shows, lunches at Clubs and art and yoga
classes. Members make suggestions of venues that they want to go
to and DARTS has its very own Access Committee that checks out any
new venue to make sure that it is accessible.
As an incorporated organisation DARTS has a
Management Board and the majority of this Board are people with
disabilities. The real needs of its members who use wheelchairs
are voiced at the decision making time. DARTS started as and still
is a self-help group. This is one of its strengths.
DARTS enables its clients to be included in
society, improving the quality of life of individuals who are transport
disadvantaged and who would otherwise be isolated. People with moderate
to severe physical disabilities are supported so that they can remain
in their own homes and not have to move to nursing homes. DARTS
increases its clients' independence. Family or other primary caregivers
are given the opportunity of respite from their role. Top of Page
Accessible transport is expensive. Each bus
currently costs about $115,000 including hoist and modifications.
Funds are always needed to replace buses. In July 2004 North Sydney
Rotary made a decision to raise funds for the next bus which will
be purchased in 2005. This is an important contribution and is a
positive step towards the future. Top of Page
In setting up DARTS Marie King aimed to help
people in wheelchairs to get out and do the things everyone wants
to do in life. She said, "People need their fun and the bus
helps them to join with others. Adults in wheelchairs don’t stop
needing to be able to have a drink with their mates, go to restaurants,
meet someone on a date, go on picnics, see films or attend parties."
Through the support of the community DARTS has
achieved its original goals. It has been a story of success and
everyone involved should be proud of what they have accomplished.
DARTS will still need funds and volunteers if
it is to continue. Let’s hope that community support can be maintained
so that DARTS can provide its outstanding service for people with
disabilities for many more years.
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