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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-09-10 Daily Xml
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MATTERS OF INTEREST

ROAD SAFETY FORUM

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (16:08): I rise today to speak about the Barossa, Light and Gawler football and netball associations' inaugural road safety forum that took place on 30 July this year. I was extremely pleased to attend this inspirational forum, along with about 200 other people.

The BL&G football and netball associations have suffered significantly in the past few years through a number of road fatalities and near misses involving players from different clubs. The most recent local incidences we have learnt of were the tragic deaths of Josh Ahern, of the South Gawler Lions, and Matthew Konzag, who was a part of the Mallala Magpies in the neighbouring Adelaide Plains Football League.

The loss of any life on our roads is a tragedy, but the loss of our young members of the community is heartbreaking. Neither Josh nor Matthew was more than 17 years of age, and both had fantastic opportunities before them; neither had evidence of alcohol or drugs in their system, and neither was hooning at the time of their accident. These accidents have been blamed on a lack of experience and knowledge of how dangerous a motor vehicle can be.

I commend the BL&G football and netball associations for putting together this excellent forum, which was well attended by young people from all nine affiliated clubs. I congratulate South Australia Police for setting a target of fewer than 100 road deaths this year. Whilst this is still too many, it is a good first step and one we must embrace. Education is the key to a further reduction in this toll.

The forum included key addresses by Commissioner Mal Hyde AO and Sergeant Chris Gill of South Australia Police; Mr Pat Adams, who is a clinical team leader of a paramedic intern team; and also Mrs Trish Konzag, the mother of young Matthew Konzag. These people spoke of their varied but first-hand experience and gave the forum perspective and frank reality.

Along with the inspirational speeches from these people, the BL&G associations gave out prizes of enormous value to two teenagers who attended the forum: a 16 year old netballer from Nuriootpa received a defence driving course and a 17 year old footballer from Willaston received four driving lessons.

The following Saturday, the BL&G football and netball associations organised a road safety awareness round. The emotion, strength and spirit featured in these games sent a powerful message, which the players and spectators will always remember.

I particularly commend the Barossa, Light and Gawler football and netball communities for taking the initiative in this area and harnessing the community spirit to prevent further loss of life on our roads. I look forward to other sporting bodies around the state holding events such as the forum conducted by these associations.

I particularly congratulate Mr Robin Symes (otherwise known as 'Nobby'), the President of the BL&G Football Association; Ms Lee-Anne Cummings, the President of the Barossa and Light Netball Association; and all those who helped organised the forum. I particularly commend the Barossa and Light Herald for its overall sponsorship of the forum and the round of games, and I thank the Nuriootpa Rover Football Club for hosting the event. A large number of people across the clubs worked towards organising the event, and I pay tribute to them, in particular, Ms Terri Smith from the Willaston Netball Club, and Mr Jim Callender, a former officer of the Legislative Council of this parliament, who is the President of the South Gawler Football Club.

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