Read how a local police officer worked with the Gladstone Area Rotary clubs to bring the RYDA Road Safety Education program to local school students during October and November 2022.

Calliope Police Officer acting Sergeant Rebecca Sheerin had seen the RYDA Road Safety program on the Sunshine Coast and, with the help of the Area 6 Clubs, led by Area Governor Marilyn Rayment, was able to ensure Gladstone area secondary students could benefit from this outstanding program.

A great deal of organisation was required to get the program going. Acting Sergeant Sheerin worked with Senior Program Coordinator, Queensland Hannah Olsen to plan the program and approached the high schools in the area to ascertain suitable dates for participation by students in Years 10 – 12. Altogether four local high schools participated in the 2022 program.

However, without Rotary’s help, the program could not get underway. This is where AG Marilyn Rayment’s leadership came to the fore. Marilyn used her local contacts to assist in organising the facilitators, the Rotary Volunteers, the car required for the Speed and Stopping Demonstration (her own car!), and other equipment required for the various presentations.

The RYDA program is fully scripted and must be delivered in accordance with the Facilitator's Training Manual to maintain best practice and to abide by The Road Safety funding conditions. All facilitators need to complete an online training module so they can be advised on how to present the content that is provided, and for OH&S purposes. Sessions included in the day’s program are: Road Choices; Crash Investigators; Drive S.O.S.; The ’I’ In Drive; Mind Matters; and Speed & Stopping, with all facilitators having expertise and / or experience in the topic they presented.

Rotary volunteers came from the Rotary Clubs of Boyne-Tannum. Gladstone Midday, Gladstone Sunrise, Gladstone, and Calliope. Rotarian volunteers provided help with food, water for facilitators and making sure the equipment and booklets were all available and set-up before commencement of the sessions for each day. They also assisted with directing students to each session, as well as providing the facilities in the venue, and acting as timekeepers for the facilitators.

The program received great coverage on the local television news. Watch the story which was aired on 7 News Central Queensland here.

Although the 2022 program was put together in a relatively short time, it was highly successful, and there are already bookings from local schools to run the program in 2023.