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VICSES St Arnaud Unit volunteers revive road fatigue site

24/01/2025, 4:44 PM
Fred and Lorraine Kell have played a key role in relaunching St Arnaud's Driver Reviver Site along the Sunraysia Highway.

After a nearly five-year hiatus, Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) St Arnaud Unit volunteers in the Wimmera region have officially relaunched their popular Driver Reviver site, as part of a collective effort to reduce road trauma over the busy summer period.

Following a year which saw local unit members called to 15 road crash rescues, VICSES St Arnaud Unit volunteers will offer free coffee, tea and snacks via the national Driver Reviver program to encourage motorists to break up their travel and limit the risk of driving fatigued.

Located at St Arnaud’s Queen Mary Gardens along the popular Sunraysia Highway, the site will be open over the Australia Day long weekend, following its revival by local volunteers this summer for the first time since March 2020.

The Driver Reviver initiative encourages motorists to break up their drive and enjoy a free tea, coffee or biscuit to reduce fatigue-related road crashes.

The site joins more than 40 dedicated Driver Reviver locations across the state, many of which are supported by VICSES or Lions Club volunteers, which will open throughout summer in an effort to curb road trauma and its widespread impact.

Across Victoria, VICSES volunteers responded to more than 1,900 road crash rescues in 2024, often attending alongside Victoria Police and other emergency service first responders in the event of high-impact collisions.

Since Driver Reviver’s launch nationwide almost 35 years ago, volunteers have poured more than 23 million free hot drinks for Australian motorists, exemplifying an ongoing commitment to reduce road trauma around the country.

Community members planning to travel this holiday season are encouraged to ensure they are well rested before commencing their journey, take extra care on the roads, and pull in to a Driver Reviver site to stretch their legs and fight fatigue.

For more information, visit driverreviver.com.au.

Quotes attributable to Lorraine Kell, VICSES St Arnaud Unit volunteer and St Arnaud Driver Reviver site manager:

“As a community, we were really aware of the number of road crash incidents we’ve seen in the area in recent times, and collectively thought it was something we needed to address.

“We encourage motorists travelling through the Wimmera region to stop in and enjoy a refreshment, stretch their legs, and make efforts to limit their fatigue while on our roads this summer.”

Quotes attributable to Ashley Pittard, National Manager Driver Reviver:

“It’s really pleasing to see a community so onboard with spreading awareness around road safety and fatigue, and I look forward to working with St Arnaud as they revive their site following a lengthy break.

“Fatigue is a major killer on roads across Victoria and around the country, and Driver Reviver sites are a great place for motorists to take a break and enjoy a free coffee, tea or snack to ensure they’re fresh for the remainder of their journey.”