Donation to the Terang SES
This year is already shaping up as a bad year for road emergencies in the South West. The reports of stupidity and just plain bad luck have almost filled the pages of the Standard. Every time I read one, I am reminded of the police we have recognised to date for the good work they do in helping improve the safety of our roads. This coming Sunday my twin grandsons turn 18. One is sitting for his licence on the following Tuesday the other on the
Wednesday. They have both spent almost two years working towards this event and I only hope this has prepared them well enough for when the supervising conscience is removed from the passenger seat.
 
Dr John Birrell as the Police Surgeon from 1957 to 1977 worked tirelessly to ensure Victorians understood and accepted the evolution of modern technology to help reduce risks in motoring, especially seat belts and the breathalyser.
 
WD2 police, which encompasses Warrnambool, Moyne, Corangamite, Glenelg and Southern Grampians Government areas took up the challenge identified by John Birrell and have continued to work tirelessly to educate drivers and enforce safety.
 
The Rotary Club of Warrnambool East, in conjunction with the police of WD2, made the first of the now annual Dr. John Birrell Road Safety Award in the 2017- 2018 Rotary year.
Tonight, we make the latest of these awards to Senior Constable Melissa Gray of Terang Police. Melissa was nominated by her Sergeant, Danny Brown of Terang Police, and has been recognised by her peers for her outstanding work around Road Safety. It has been agreed that Melissa has made a significant contribution to reducing the Road Toll in our region over the past year.
 
Danny is also with us tonight and will fill in for Sergeant Dean Greenwood our VicPol coordinator who is an apology tonight as he has been slotted into another commitment.
 
I have mentioned in other presentations of this Dr Birrell Award that it would be a bit iffy to hand Senior Constable Gray a brown paper bag with the award’s $2500 in it. So as normal we ask the winner to nominate his or her designated charity to receive the funds. Melissa has indicated her wish for the funds to be donated to the local Terang SES.  She said that they would be a great recipient as they deliver a vital service and attend most road trauma collisions in her area.
 
Sergeant Brown noted that he had been 33 years with VicPol and had seen much change over that time. He thanked RCWE for the welcome tonight and for the Award, noting that recognition of an individual member was great affirmation of the work being done. He spoke about the special challenges and benefits of working in a small locality where everyone knows everyone, and noted that road trauma effects the whole community, not just the immediate victim.
 
He indicated that SC Gray does all normal police work such as crime investigation and domestic violence, but she has a special interest in road safety. Terang Police Station has been selected to take part in a drug testing trial, and is working actively to prevent road accidents rather than just issuing tickets.
 
Sgt Brown concluded by emphasising that SC Gray had done a wonderful job – she was known to and respected by the entire community.
 
SES Deputy Controller English spoke about the fact that in a small community members of the various Emergency Services don’t only interact when on duty, but meet each other in the supermarket, the coffee shop, and other aspects of daily life. She noted the support of Rotary, and said that a recent Rotary Club of Terang project was the compilation of a list of defibrillator locations in the town. Mel’s award money will be well spent on a piece of equipment to protect the spine of people being removed from vehicles post-accident.
 
In thanking RCWE for the award, Senior Constable Gray mentioned that road safety had been on her mind since losing a friend at 18 in an accident. She again emphasised the fact that the effects of road trauma spread well beyond those directly involved. SC Gray directed her “Speaker’s Reward” to Hospice.