19/07/2026
A bus service built by community, now connecting June to The Bays 🚌💙
For Bittern local and The Bays volunteer June Govet, the new Hastings–Mornington bus service is more than just a new route — it’s the result of years of community advocacy.
June was among the local residents who helped build support for the service, collecting signatures and speaking up about the need for better transport connections across the Peninsula.
For many locals, particularly older residents, getting from the Hastings side of the Peninsula to Mornington for appointments and essential services was previously difficult.
“It was previously very difficult for locals to get from the Hastings side of the Peninsula to Mornington for medical appointments, especially the elderly,” June says.
When the service officially launched, June was one of the very first passengers aboard.
“It was absolutely amazing being one of the first passengers on the inaugural journey because we’d talked so much about wanting a bus service that us diehards were there at 6am on a Sunday to catch the first one!”
Now, each Tuesday, June catches the bus to The Bays for her volunteer shift — continuing a role she has loved for the past 10 years.
“The new bus service has made a difference for me because I don’t enjoy driving from Bittern to Mornington at that hour, with the potholes, and I feel safer on the bus. It’s a lovely ride and the bus driver has been very friendly.”
A retired nurse, June spends her mornings as a patient companion, keeping patients company, sharing conversations and helping with the little things that make a hospital stay more comfortable.
“I start at 8am and often end up helping elderly patients open the packets to prepare their breakfast and make them a coffee. Volunteering is so rewarding — you make a life not by giving your time, but by giving your heart.”
June says the connections she makes with patients are what make volunteering so special.
“You get back more than you give as a volunteer. It makes my day to bring a smile to someone’s face and make a difference in people’s lives.”
June also coordinates The Bays Volunteer Social Club, bringing together volunteers from across the organisation so they can connect, share experiences and build friendships.
“I love my role as a patient companion because I feel like I make an impact on patients’ lives. My heart feels so full when I leave there.”
We’re grateful for community advocates like June, whose passion and persistence help create meaningful connections — from better transport links across the Peninsula to the moments of kindness and care shared with our patients every day.
📍The Bays Hospital is the final stop on the new Hastings–Mornington bus service.
