Rolling Through

(Getting to Bulli)

I’ve written poetry most of my life but this is the first time I’ve put my experience as a disabled person into verse.

January’s come and the festival’s back.
I plan to head down on the railway track
But a friend overhears and makes sure to say
That no trains will hitting the tracks on my days.

They’re doing repairs so the trains are all stopped.
This unpleasant news is a horrible shock.
They’ll send some old buses to travel the road
But a wheelchair like mine is one they won’t load.

This two day adventure must turn into four
The arrangement of which has become quite a chore
But on Friday and Monday the trains will still go
So if I can catch those, I’ll still see the show. 

I must make a new plan to get myself there.
I can’t just not go – that would lead to despair.
My ticket is paid and Grace Petrie’s  performing
I sigh with relief that I got a week’s warning.

Judy lives close and has  said we can stay
But to get to the site, I’ll still need a way.
My wheelchair’s too big to go in her car
And to ride from her home is way, way too far.

In Wollongong too, footpaths are rare
And the steep ramps to access them cause quite a  scare.
I wish I could just turbo charge my machine
Or sprout wings and fly.  Now there’s a dream.

I could take off -  and glide down from Stanwell Park
And come in on the oval – what a lark!
But as wings are lacking, perhaps a bus?
That may well have to do for us.

 
On Saturday there’s a bus that goes
But on Sunday the Northern suburbs doze.
They stay at home.  They don’t go out.
On Sunday, there’s no bus about. 

Ok, no bus, so that won’t work.
This is driving me berserk!
I need my chair to get around.
I can’t walk across that much ground.

Maybe my chair could camp on site?
If we lock it away, it’ll be all right.
It can charge overnight to be ready for more
I’ll call and ask Russell.  He’ll know the score.

Messages, emails phone calls and stress.
One weekend’s trackwork has caused quite a mess.
But with two days off work and support from good mates
Plan B for the festival finally took shape.

I’m here to have fun and with friends share a beer
To enjoy all the music and lots of good cheer.
It took way too much planning to make this come true
But I’m very relieved now to be here with you.

Some think that disabled folk don’t have much skill
But this story shows they do not know the drill.
For logistical planning, I have quite a flair 
When the festival’s happening, I want to be there!

I found out later that if there’s trackwork and you can’t use the buses, NSW trains will help you organise something so you don’t get stuck. It wouldn’t have been a good option for me on this occasion but at least it’s there. It’s not information they offer when they tell you that buses will be replacing trains. It should be. If you scroll down far enough and click on Accessible transport during trackwork, you’ll see

If you require wheelchair accessible transport through areas affected by trackwork please contact your local station or operator beforehand to arrange a low-floor bus or other suitable vehicle. Please allow additional travel time.

It requires even more forward planning from disabled people so that’s pretty poor. Time we made all railway replacement buses wheelchair accessible.

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