Green Cross Project Inc. (GCPI) was established by Mr Tony Sallmann, AO LVO, in 1995. Mr Sallmann, as Chairman of St Vincent Hospital, encouraged Ms Mary Berry, who was Director of Nursing (about to retire), to become involved in a support group for homeless youth. An existing bus was operating in the Dandenong region. A bus (known as “Ken’s bus”) was donated by Ken Grenda AM, founder and chairman of Grenda’s, for outreach purposes. ‘Ken’s Bus’ was used to support homeless youths. However, the then operators of the bus were seeking to exit the initiative, and so GCPI took over the operations of Ken’s Bus.
Dr John Gall CLJ lead this project and was responsible for the operations of the bus. Regular meetings were held at a youth club type facility in Dandenong which was built and funded by the late Richard Pratt AC. After a number of years Ken’s Bus was replaced with the current bus. By this stage the executive team included:
- Mr Brian McCarthy KLJ (Chair);
- Dr Paul Nisselle AM CMLJ;
- Mr Tony Sallmann AO LVO GCLJ GCMLJ GCrLJ;
- Dr John Gall CLJ (Dandenong bus);
- Mr Barry Jamison KLJ OMLJ;
- Mr Norm Bevan KLJ; and
- Mr John Herbig KLJ GOMLJ.
In 1995, GCPI established a Western suburbs bus donated by Grenda’s. It was refurbished for $20,000. Mobil refinery and the Altona Petrochemical Complex Companies donated toward the project. Notably, several companies pledged $10,000 per annum for three years to cover running costs.
The bus was formally launched near the main entrance of the Western Hospital. The Rt Rev David Farrer and representatives from other faiths attended and blessed the project. Ms Mary Berry played an instrumental role. She organized and briefed a cadre of volunteer nurses. Mary developed a manual that had a strong focus on youths. She also developed a strong relationship with Victoria Police, who supported the project. The field team met regularly in the board room of the Western Hospital.
In 1996, Mr Barry Strong KLJ took a leadership role in operating the Western suburbs bus. However, over time, the demand for the bus diminished, and the bus was ultimately sold in 1999. Meanwhile, the Dandenong bus continued with its service to those in need. It became the “Outreach Bus” co-ordinating service with help from Southern Health. Since 2005, the Green Bus has been used in the City of Greater Dandenong, one of Melbourne’s most socially and economically disadvantaged local government areas, with increasing residents struggling to meet their financial requirements. Green Cross Project Inc. operated a bus outreach program in Western Melbourne that provided services similar to those offered today in the Greater Dandenong Area. Until the end of 2012, the Outreach Bus partnered with Southern Health Outreach Programs in the Greater Dandenong area.
When Southern Health could no longer support the program, Green Cross Project Inc. was fortunate to find a new partner in the Western Region Health Centre (WRHC). In 2014, WRHC (covering Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank, Wyndham, Melton & Hume) merged with two kindred organisations, viz. North Yarra Community Health (covering Collingwood, Carlton, and Fitzroy), Doutta Galla Community Health (covering Melbourne & Moonee Valley) and the merged organisation, cohealth, are now the partners of Green Cross Project Inc.
When Ventura bought Grenda in January 2012, their CEO, Mr Andrew Cornwall, continued to support Green Cross Project Inc. by having his company service the large bus (GCOB-1) and by providing secure parking until Sunshine Tours kindly provided this at their closer Deer Park facility.
By 2014, it became clear that an urgent requirement for a second but smaller vehicle was present. A generous donation from the Barbara Gillam-Hunt Foundation enabled us to acquire a new Toyota HiAce SLWB vehicle, which was converted by Mader International to meet our specific outreach requirements.
As the large outreach bus, GCOB-1, had been in service for over forty years, it became evident that it needed to be replaced. Ventura generously offered us a second-hand bus from their current fleet, which would become available mid-2016. By this time, we had concluded that such a large bus was no longer practical. After consultation with cohealth we decided to purchase a Toyota Coaster Bus, which was converted to a mobile clinic by Mader International, generously supported by the Vera Moore Foundation.
In 2018, GCPI provided $ 25,000 to partner with cohealth on a new initiative – a mobile GP service, now known a the “Street Doctor”. Using our outreach buses, this service focused on providing holistic services to homeless and disadvantaged members of cohealth’s catchment region. This service was extended in 2019. GCPI and cohealth were delighted to learn that, in August 2019, Melbourne City Council contributed to this service with a $ 200,00 grant (covering two years).
During 2019, discussions with Monash Health reached a stage where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between GCPI and Monash Health in July 2019. This MoU enabled GCPI to extend its services to the eastern suburbs of Melbourne (as far as Cockatoo and Pakenham). This initiative could only have been realised because of the generous support of the Collier Foundation and the Vera Moore Foundation.
In September 2019, GCPI was able to acquire its third outreach bus. In late December 2019, the third bus was refurbished and handed over to Monash Health for use starting in January 2020. Thus, GCPI continues working with cohealth and Monash Health to deliver much-needed services to the disadvantaged across greater Melbourne.
During the Covid pandemic, GCPI was able to loan its larger vehicle to the Victorian Aboriginal Community Control Health Organisation to assist with vaccinations in rural and regional Victoria. Given the success of this short-term partnership, GCPI and VACCHO entered a MoU to establish rural and regional cancer screening and eye diagnostic services.
Given the nature of the service, GCPI sold the Toyota Hiace bus and purchased and refurbished the LDV van (to be given the number plate GCOB4). GCOB4 was officially launched on 15 April 2024.
Green Cross Project Inc 