The friendly little Lions truck that zips around Phillip Island delivering and picking up used furniture has been upgraded.

In 2022 the Lions Club of Phillip Island received a grant from the Cowes, San Remo and Grantville Community Bendigo Bank to upgrade the existing truck, a 1996 model Toyota Diesel that the Lions had used for over a decade.

The $20,000 grant allowed the Lions to buy a replacement truck, a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, with a similar flat rear tray.

Existing Lions’ funds were used to transfer the battery-powered lifter to the new truck and add a few more safety features, such as retractable steps to the rear tray (very important for the ageing legs and hips of Lions members and volunteers) and side cage walls to help secure the loads of used furniture.

The new truck has been in use since mid-January 2023. In early March signage was added showing the vital contribution by the Cowes, San Remo and Grantville Community Bendigo Bank. Thanks goes to Archisign in Cowes, for these signs.

The Lions Club is very grateful to the Community Bank for providing the grants that enabled the purchase of this new truck.

It’s hoped the truck will become a familiar sight around the island, delivering and picking up used furniture for the Lions’ used-furniture market, Steptoe’s Emporium.

Steptoe’s is open every weekend on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and is the Lions major source of funds for their community support services on the Island and contributions to national and international charities.

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