On Tuesday 18 May 2021, the Casey TAC L2P program held an event in Narre Warren to acknowledge the generous contribution of our L2P volunteers and to celebrate National Volunteer Week 2021.
This night of celebration and recognition-especially significant in light of the challenges that COVID-19 has presented - was attended by L2P volunteers, program driving instructors, representatives from the City of Casey's Safer Communities team and the program funding body, the Department of Transport.
Program officers congratulated and celebrated long-term volunteer, Margaret Caffyn, who was nominated for a Westfield Local Hero program award, acknowledging her valuable contributions to the program.
Margaret joined L2P as a volunteer in 2012 and has contributed more than 1,039 volunteer driving hours. Margaret told those at the event that she has supported 14 learners to obtain the hours required to sit their license.
"I am in a position to facilitate multiple lessons a week, which means building my learner drivers' hours up quickly, so they can be successful in getting their licence," she said.
Other speakers at the event included Casey L2P mentor, Ian Norman who reflected on his experience with the program.
"How important this program is for those young people that do not have anyone to support them with their mandatory driving hours," he said.
Luke Donovan, from the Department of Transport, described the program as "amazing".
"To be able to provide supervised driving experience to these young learner drivers, who do not have access to a supervising driver or a car to achieve the required 120 hours, is a brilliant service to your learner and to the wider community," he said.
Learner driver Ava* told the audience that when she started the L2P program in December 2020, she had only four hours driving experience, but has since increased her total to 55 hours.
"Soon I will be halfway through achieving all my hours. I never believed that I would be able to do this but my mentor, Bill, has made that possible for me," she said.
"Bill devotes four hours a week to take me driving and experiencing all different types of driving situations. I cannot thank him enough!"
All volunteers were awarded certificates of appreciation and a gift.
We are always on the lookout for volunteers to join the TAC L2P program. Find out how you can join a dedicated team of mentors who have assisted hundreds of learners to get their licence.
*Name changed for privacy reasons.
