By Natalie Gallenti
ROD Powell is more than happy to share his years of experience on the road with youngsters learning to drive.
The Footscray resident was on the cusp of retirement, wondering how he could volunteer his time within the community, when he heard about Brimbank Council’s L2P Learner Driver Program.
A year on, and Mr Powell has become a mentor to Brimbank resident Samuel Mersha, 19.
The initiative assists young people who have difficulty accessing traditional supports, such as a vehicle or supervising driver, to accrue the mandatory 120 hours of driving experience.
Before Mr Powell got into a vehicle with Samuel, he underwent rigorous training and was then matched with the learner driver.
Mr Powell said his aim while mentoring Samuel was to make him comfortable and confident behind the wheel, while also instilling road rules and the need to be cautious as a driver.
He said had the program not been available, youngsters like Samuel would have no driving experience as there were no adults or family members to supervise them.
“It’s a really satisfying task if you’re an experienced driver,” he said.
“We talk about what went wrong and what was good, and I take him to different destinations.
“It’s all about proper education.”
Mr Powell said he was motivated to volunteer his time, knowing that he was helping to make someone a reliable and responsible driver.
There is no charge for the program and anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can request an information kit by contacting L2P Program Officer PO Box 70 Sunshine 3020, or calling 0418 312 710.
