By Deanne Jeffers
EMERGENCY service workers are pleading with drivers to take more care behind the wheel after a deadly start to 2023 in the Goulburn Valley.
27 lives were lost on local roads in last year, with 12 deaths to occur so far in 2023.
It is usually a serious accident that brings Victoria Police, paramedics, firefighters, State Emergency Service and search and rescue members, and community leaders together, but last week they assembled at DECA to share their anguish over rising road trauma and plead with drivers to be safe.
“No first responder is unaffected by road trauma, either an instant or a cumulative effect. Members of the community are affected across families, across friendship groups,” said Victoria Police superintendent Shane Cashman.
“I think that all call outs where there’s a major trauma – and I’m sure everyone would back me – that you get home, and you don’t really think about much else for a start. And if you’re lucky, you get a bit of sleep that first night,” said SES volunteer, Graham Milner.
Uncle Bobby Nicholls spoke of the impact of accidents on the community, saying, “The Aboriginal community in Shepparton is only 7,000 people or so, and the impact that has on families and communities is big.”
This is resounded in multicultural communities. Sam Atukorala, Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District strategic management coordinator added, “A lot of people … come to this beautiful country and establish themselves but with one bad decision … not only can they not establish themselves but there’s a ripple effect in the community.”
Everyone could speak of how road trauma had impacted them, and they are asking drivers to be aware of their speed, whether they’ve used drugs or alcohol, and to not be distracted.
Seeking to engage the community in an awareness and education campaign, they launched Operation Travel last week, involving a social media campaign and engaging drivers to alert them of road risks.
“We just ask everybody to please travel safe for all of our wellbeing,” said superintendent Cashman.
