As a result of the deaths of their teenage brothers in two tragic, but unrelated accidents on the Mornington Peninsula, close friends, Skye Noble and Ruth Maloney felt they needed a forum to convey a message.

The message had to be aimed at other young people about the tragic consequences of loosing a young person, be it relative or friend, to a motor vehicle or similar needless accident. Although Ruth’s brother’s accident was not vehicle related the girls could identify with each others grief and sense of loss particularly when Skye lost her brother, Tim, along with two other classmates of Tim’s in a motor vehicle accident in Frankston in 1998.

On invitation to judge a Lions Club youth Speech Award, Dromana Fire Brigade’s Captain, Craig Solly, was genuinely moved by a speech given by Ruth Maloney about the effects the death of her brother had on her and her family. Ruth also spoke about young adults believing they are invincible yet in a matter of seconds the death of a loved one can change the course of so many peoples lives. Ruth also related her account of also losing her close friend Tim Noble.

Triggering an idea Captain Solly had been considering for some time, an Inaugural Meeting was called at the Dromana Fire Station on 14th April, 1999 to conduct a Forum on how we could reduce the Road Toll in relation to young adult drivers. Interested representatives of the community were invited to participate in the formulation of a Presentation aimed at year 10 to Year 12 School students in Secondary Schools, initially on the Mornington Peninsula, addressing the consequences and responsibilities involved in becoming a Licensed Driver.

The meeting was attended by members of the Dromana, Rosebud and Mt. Martha Fire Brigades, local Police and Ambulance Officers, Lions Club and Peninsula Road Safety Council representatives, along with Ruth Maloney and Skye Noble representing the Youth of our Community.

A concept was formulated…