Community partnership takes flight
 
The most visible part of Valley Flyer's community partnership with the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, announced in September, was launched today – a striking, new-look bus which will help raise awareness of the Institute’s life-changing work.
 
“Public transport is about providing a service to communities,” says Matthew Lear, General Manager of Valley Flyer.  “We further believe that our buses should reflect those communities, particularly the things that are important to them.”
 
The Gillies McIndoe Research Institute will conduct research into reconstructive plastic surgery, helping change the lives of people living with disfiguring and sometimes life threatening medical conditions.
 
“The Institute’s research will have the very real result of improving people’s lives,” says Mr Lear.  “Its contribution to the Hutt Valley community will be huge and we are thrilled to be able to support them and to include them among the wider company’s community partnerships.”
 
Dr Colin Calcinai, Chair of the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Research Foundation, the body behind the Institute project is delighted with the support Valley Flyer is providing.
 
“It is absolutely vital that we achieve profile for our campaign to raise the funds and the awareness necessary to establish the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute,” says Dr Calcinai.  “This bus will be a travelling billboard for our cause for two years in the Hutt Valley and our message will reach thousands of people as a result.  We are delighted with the extra coverage and publicity this unique form of promotion will bring us.”
 
The butterfly is the symbol of the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute.  It is representative of the positive physical and psychological changes patients undergo through reconstructive surgery.
 
Butterflies were chosen for special treatment on the bus.  And, the winner of the Valley Flyer ‘design-a-butterfly’ competition was announced at the launch.  Jutta Chisholm, a Hutt Valley resident, will see her butterfly design displayed inside the bus.  She also won $1000 and three months’ free travel on all Valley Flyer services.
Jutta had never heard of the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute before she entered the competition.
 
“Since I entered the competition, I have found out many more things about what Gillies McIndoe does – I have heard some really lovely stories of how they have helped many children,” says Jutta. 
 
Ten runner-up entries were also chosen to feature on the bus with each receiving a Snapper card loaded with $50.  To find out about the winners, go to www.valleyflyer.co.nz.
 
Matthew Lear was delighted with the response received from the competition. 
 
“Our goal was to get the public involved in the design of the new bus and with over 1000 entries received for the competition; it’s clear the Hutt Valley people really took it to heart!” says Mr Lear.
 
The Valley Flyer – Gillies McIndoe Research Institute bus will be seen on the Streets of the Hutt Valley and Wellington from today.
 
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