Roadway to a ‘hell of a feeling’
SPENDING some time in the passenger’s seat to help young people gain their independence is also providing benefits to several Townsville volunteers.
Queensland Youth Service Learnit volunteer Joan Molony is the first to admit that she has been no angel on the road in the past but she is using that life experience to mentor young drivers to help them lead an independent life and make the streets safer.
“In the past I was one of the worst drivers. I was one of those that needed to get from point A to point B in the shortest possible manner even if that means cutting corners but I’ve made a conscious decision to improve my driving,” Joan said.
She said the program had helped her improve her own skills while also helping her connect with the younger generation.
Joan said she was moved to join the program after hearing about the youth crime and stolen car epidemic in Townsville.
“It’s really nice to give back and one of the joyous things that happens is you finish the lesson and a student will say, ‘I had no idea about whatever it was and I’m really chuffed that
I can actually do that now’.
“You can see the confidence grow within.”
Ken Mooney joined up early as a mentor after Queensland Youth Service Learnit’s Murray Holm visited the Northern Drag Racing Club to tell them about the program and call for volunteers.
Ken said the feeling of helping young people obtain their licence was like no other.
He said he recently had two people go for their tests on the one morning.
“I took those two for their driving test and when they come out they were all over you and it gives you a hell of a good feeling to say you’ve taken these kids 10 times, five times, two times over the period of their 100 hours and to physically see them pass and thank you for taking them it’s just a hell of a feeling,” Ken said.
Both Ken and Joan commended the program’s flexibility, saying mentors could volunteer as much or as little time as they wanted and could change arrangements at short notice, which suited their lifestyles.