Wairarapa Rotary RYDA wins Australasian Award for keeping our young people safe on the roads

Last night In Masterton I witnessed in one room how Rotarians, partners and sponsors come together to make a huge difference in our community.  Rotarians in the Wairarapa are working with their District Councils, the Police, schools, and local businesses to sponsor year 12 students through RYDA - Rotary Youth Driver Awareness - managed by Road Safety Education Ltd (RSE).  RYDA uses sound evidence, best practice and community involvement to reduce the number of young people killed and seriously injured on our roads.

Freya Kerr, Masterton South Rotary

Wairarapa RYDA won the prestigious Gold Award for Community Collaboration - for the whole of Australasia - with presentations being accepted by community people and Rotary Clubs, including Val Ball (Masterton Rotary), Freya Kerr (Masterton South Rotary), Rod O'Leary (Carterton Rotary), Pat Dette (South Wairarapa Rotary).  Congratulations to all of the Rotary Clubs in the Wairarapa. 

Val Ball, Masterton Rotary

Presidents of local Rotary Clubs, Rotarians, the District Mayors of Masterton and Carterton, police representatives and many more were present as was the CEO of Road Safety Education Ltd and the New Zealand Coordinator who had flown in from Sydney and Auckland respectively for the evening. 

Pat Dette, South Wairarapa Rotary

At RYDA, students attend six interactive sessions at a dedicated venue over the course of a school day.  In small peer groups, they are challenged to change the way they think about road safety; participating in a stopping distance demonstration, devising personalised strategies, gaining an understanding of their individual risk profile and getting tips from road safety experts on how to protect themselves, their friends and family. 

Rod O'Leary, Carterton Rotary

Our District Co-Chairs are Freya Kerr and Val Ball.  I encourage all of our Rotary Clubs to sponsor this programme in our communities.  So please look at the  information at http://www.rse.org.au/category/ryda/rotarian-resources/ and get in touch with Freya or Val whose details are in the District Directory

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