On a brisk June evening, I head out to the Wantirna Football Club, to do a road safety presentation on behalf of Road Trauma Support Services Victoria. The mist lingers over the large spotlights on the oval and as I exit my car, I’m engulfed with gritty teenager football boots. They run from the trampled grass into the clubhouse laughing and shouting at the same time, eager from the smell of pizza and Pepsi, which fills the air.

I let out a sigh then scan the surrounding faces of youth all eager with sweat and burnt out energy searching over them for Sally, a volunteer speaker. Sally’s son, Charlie was killed in a road crash and she now shares her road trauma story to change behaviours and attitudes on our roads.

Sally and I have come to speak with the 40 plus energetic teenagers, their parents and coaches. We both work together to deliver a road safety presentation in the hope that no one is touched by road trauma.

“This brings back memories of my Charlie and the innocence of youth. We are going to be eaten up along with the pizza. I can’t remember the last time I was in a room with this many young faces, let alone talk to them about my story”, says Sally.

We smile to each other with encouragement; it is a tremendous and heartrending adjustment you must make to a new world after road trauma. Sharing a personal narrative to a football youth crowd is not an easy task; my heart flickers with admiration for the openness and courage that Sally displays. Grief can be many things, but it can also be purposeful.

As the last bits of mozzarella stretch from the pizza box, I am handed a microphone to commence our presentation.

I am the cheerleader warming up the crowd before the big game. Choices are made, statistics are delivered, short films are shown and discussion is elicited between sips of Pepsi, just as the whole team suffers when a player is injured or penalised for making a poor choice or split-second decision in a game, we all suffer when someone does exactly this and is injured on our roads. The ripple travels far and wide, and time has no boundaries for the flow-on effects.

Just like in a game, I feel the need for a quarter-time break or change of players. Sally’s trademark flame-red hair and daisy tattoo dedicated to Charlie, take to the centre of the room. The energetic teenagers slowly sit up in their chairs leaning forward and eyes fixed on Sally, her voice travels deep, her words melt and mould their way into each person in the room in a way that no statistic or video could do. It is honest, it fuses practical wisdom, it connects and reaches spaces that cannot be opened and it is courageous and loving.

The room applauds, the boxes of leftover pizza and rubbish are cleared away, parents gather around Sally to share their gratitude and thanks.

The air is harsh, and the cold hits us as we exit the clubrooms, although we stand and chat as the cold turns our breath into mist our souls are warm from the experience of reaching out to others to stay safe on our roads. Sally’s words, the bonds of a team, the spirit of kindness, the hope of zero road fatalities is caught in that moment and is what we are working towards. Our message has been passed on, and now the positive ripple begins.

VOLUNTEERING WITH ROAD TRAUMA SUPPORT SERVICES VICTORIA

My volunteering experience with Road Trauma Support Services Victoria (RTSSV), has been a lifeline that has transformed my life, and thus influence my relationships with others most positively and fruitfully!

I came across a quote the other day on Facebook that stated this: “One day, you will tell your story, of how you’ve overcome, what you are going through now, and it will become part of someone’s survival guide.” I feel the work that RTSSV’s volunteers and paid staff do – does just that – for many within our community.

My volunteering story began back almost ten years ago now, on the 5th of November 2009. At our family home, early on a Friday morning, a knock at the front door revealed a young police officer who asked me, was I Karen Robinson, Ben’s mum and I said yes. With words that stumbled around, he said they were not sure they had the right address. He then stated that Ben, my son, had been killed in a single-car crash. Ben was 25, travelling at 140 kilometres per hour on a straight stretch of country road, in the early hours of the morning, with a BAC level of .08, hit a kangaroo, lost control of his vehicle, hit two trees and was killed instantly – the Coroner’s report stated. I want to say here, that he was not a bad person, he was well-loved and liked by many, but he did engage in risky driver behaviour for many years and on the night of his death, made some choices that tragically cost him his life. Ben is greatly missed and especially by me, his mum, his dad and sister.

My family’s grieving process was different, for each of us, but for myself, I wanted to see if I could connect with like-minded people – to give purpose and meaning to my life that had been completely shattered by the sudden and tragic loss of our son Ben. Connecting with RTSSV proved to be, one of many steps I undertook during this volunteering journey of mine.

RTSSV’s volunteer speaker training back in 2011, led me to spend five years as a volunteer speaker, sharing my life experience with road trauma, through the Road Trauma Awareness Seminar (RTAS) program to repeat road traffic offenders – people just like my son. Someone asked me one day “you must feel great after sharing your story” and I thought at the time that, that was not the case. After thinking about it for some time, I thought it was the worthiest of tasks I do in my life and still is!

What has enhanced this journey of mine has also been through the paid work that I now do with RTSSV. My volunteering has led to opportunities given to me by Chris Harrison, Education Services Manager, to undertake the role of Regional Coordinator and the RTAS program Facilitator. The position entails connecting me with other facilitators and other volunteer speakers. My job is to help them stay connected regionally and with head office, help with training and give support where needed. My role as a Facilitator is to facilitate sessions about road safety and road trauma, for traffic offender participants, in the hope they will become, safer and more responsible road users in the future.

My volunteering experience with this organisation has been lifesaving for sure. It has improved my sense of self-worth after our family’s tragic event. It helped me rebuild and re-energised my life to give it meaning and purpose. It has given me opportunities to connect and develop meaningful relationships with likeminded people, and opportunities to take up training to enhanced existing skills, and learn new ones!

As a mother, a wife, a friend, a work colleague and community member – I am genuinely appreciative of this – and thank you.

Karen Robinson
June 2019

A big thank you to Senior Constables John Keats and Trudy Morland, who were jointly awarded $2500 by the Rotary Club of Warrnambool East, for this year’s Dr John Birrell Award. They have very generously donated the money to our organisation>> https://bit.ly/2DBsj2g

Pictured below is Leading Senior Constable Trudy Morland, Road Trauma Support Services Victoria Regional Coordinator Rhys Tate and Rotary Club of Warrnambool East President Maggie Dwyer.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Bernadette Nugent, to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Bernadette joined Road Trauma Support Services Victoria in 2012 as the Manager of Counselling and Support Services and has had more than 30 years’ experience working with individuals and families in a variety of settings with a focus on grief and trauma.

Bernadette is passionate about not-for-profit organisations and about offering quality programs and services that are relevant, accessible and responsive to the needs of the community they serve.

Bernadette brings a wealth of experience and strong relationships to the CEO role.

Bernadette is very much looking forward to working with our dedicated team of volunteers, staff, board and stakeholders to continue our work in reducing the incidence and impact of road trauma.

“To complete this walk, surrounded by people who understand the impacts of road trauma, was very powerful. People talked, cried and laughed together and were united in the ambition to make a difference. I think this is a community of people who will continue to come together each year in support of this event and, who will ultimately help influence change for Victoria’s road users.”

When: Sunday 5 May 2019. Entertainment starts at 11 am, walk from 11.30 am and lunch from 12 to 1.30 pm.

Where: Palms Lawn, Albert Park Lake (between the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and The Point Restaurant)

Distance: 2km or 5km route. Or just sit back in the marquee seating and enjoy a coffee and chat.

The walk: Wheelchair, mobility scooter and prams accessible. Dogs on a lead are welcome.

Food: Water, coffee, snacks and a sausage sizzle BBQ on site.

Cost: $15 individual, $20 family and $50 team

REGISTER NOW

The impact of a traumatic event affects individuals in a variety of ways. Some of the symptoms can be extremely difficult to manage. If someone you care about is experiencing the after-effects of trauma, there are some things you can do to help.

Spending time with them will help them to stay connected. This is extremely important and aids in their recovery.

Listening without offering advice. Allow the person to talk about how they feel. Feelings are natural and normal.

Resist the urge to “fix it”.

Recovery takes time and offering a safe place for them to express how they feel can really help their recovery process.

Offer reassurance that they are safe. Trauma undermines our ability to feel safe in the world.

Encourage the person to ask for help and support. Where possible, offer practical assistance with day-to-day tasks such as cooking or picking up children.

There is no set time for the recovery of trauma. There is usually a natural recovery that occurs after trauma. For some people that can be a slow process and can take months or even years.

If you have witnessed or given assistance at the scene of a serious road incident, it is important to be aware of the range of feelings, thoughts and responses you may have. Individuals may have reactions that may be hard to manage and confusing for them and those that are close to them.

Common reactions include flashbacks, sleeplessness, uncomfortable physical sensations and symptoms, social withdrawal, irritability, and strong emotions such as anger or guilt – just to name a few.

These are all normal human responses to a traumatic event, and there is usually a natural recovery that occurs over time. However, for some people that can be a slow process and can take months or even years.

It is important to seek support from family and friends who are able to listen without trying to fix it. If you find yourself alone, or your symptoms persist, it can be helpful to speak to a professional such as your GP, a counsellor, psychologist or a social worker.