Category Archives: My Volunteering

VOLUNTEER SPEAKING: “About Road Safety and Road Trauma” Written by and Photographs from Karen Robinson

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Heidelberg West, Victoria – Australia ‘Ngwala Youth Gathering Road Safety Session at Barrbunin Beek Gathering Place’ Photographs from ©Karen Robinson June 2023

INTRODUCTION

These are some of the images we took during the Ngwala Youth Gathering Road Safety session last Thursday evening with Chris Harrison – Manager for Education at Amber Community Organisation, Paula Russell – Yorta Yorta, Northern & Western Program Manager and Volunteer Speaker (me) Karen Robinson and hubby Mark.

I shared my family’s road trauma story about my son Ben who was killed in a single-vehicle car crash in 2009 and about the impacts of road trauma.  Attending the session were approximately 30 to 35 people consisting of youth, elders, parents, youth workers and leaders of the community.

At the commencement of the session – aboriginal ceremonial dancers performed, during the session artwork was created by the young ones and a wonderful dinner was provided at the end of the evening’s event.  It was a great night and a significant opportunity to help deepen people’s understanding of road trauma and the importance of road safety.

Heidelberg West, Victoria – Australia ‘Ngwala Youth Gathering Road Safety Session at Barrbunin Beek Gathering Place’ Photograph from ©Karen Robinson June 2023 Comment: Photograph featuring images taken during the Ngwala Youth Gathering session. Chris Harrison – Manager for Education at Amber Community Organisation and Volunteer Speaker Karen Robinson with her husband Mark attended as well. Karen shared her family’s road trauma story about her son Ben who was killed in a single vehicle car crash 2009 and about the impacts of road trauma. Attending the session were approximately 30 to 35 people consisting of youth, elders, parents, youth workers and leaders of the community. At the commencement of the session – aboriginal ceremonial dancers performed, artwork was created by the young ones and a wonderful dinner provided at the end of the evening’s events. It was a great night and an important opportunity to help deepen people’s understanding about road trauma and the importance of road safety.

 

 

NB:  Artwork images are featured throughout and around the community centre at Heidelberg.

Heidelberg West, Victoria – Australia ‘Ngwala Youth Gathering Road Safety Session at Barrbunin Beek Gathering Place’ Photograph from ©Karen Robinson June 2023 Comment: Photograph featuring images taken during the Ngwala Youth Gathering session. Chris Harrison – Manager for Education at Amber Community Organisation and Volunteer Speaker Karen Robinson with her husband Mark attended as well. Karen shared her family’s road trauma story about her son Ben who was killed in a single vehicle car crash 2009 and about the impacts of road trauma. Attending the session were approximately 30 to 35 people consisting of youth, elders, parents, youth workers and leaders of the community. At the commencement of the session – aboriginal ceremonial dancers performed, artwork was created by the young ones and a wonderful dinner provided at the end of the evening’s events. It was a great night and an important opportunity to help deepen people’s understanding about road trauma and the importance of road safety.
Heidelberg West, Victoria – Australia ‘Ngwala Youth Gathering Road Safety Session at Barrbunin Beek Gathering Place’ Photograph from ©Karen Robinson June 2023 Comment: Photograph featuring images taken during the Ngwala Youth Gathering session. Chris Harrison – Manager for Education at Amber Community Organisation and Volunteer Speaker Karen Robinson with her husband Mark attended as well. Karen shared her family’s road trauma story about her son Ben who was killed in a single vehicle car crash 2009 and about the impacts of road trauma. Attending the session were approximately 30 to 35 people consisting of youth, elders, parents, youth workers and leaders of the community. At the commencement of the session – aboriginal ceremonial dancers performed, artwork was created by the young ones and a wonderful dinner provided at the end of the evening’s events. It was a great night and an important opportunity to help deepen people’s understanding about road trauma and the importance of road safety.
Heidelberg West, Victoria – Australia ‘Ngwala Youth Gathering Road Safety Session at Barrbunin Beek Gathering Place’ Photograph from ©Karen Robinson June 2023 Comment: Photograph featuring images taken during the Ngwala Youth Gathering session. Chris Harrison – Manager for Education at Amber Community Organisation and Volunteer Speaker Karen Robinson with her husband Mark attended as well. Karen shared her family’s road trauma story about her son Ben who was killed in a single vehicle car crash 2009 and about the impacts of road trauma. Attending the session were approximately 30 to 35 people consisting of youth, elders, parents, youth workers and leaders of the community. At the commencement of the session – aboriginal ceremonial dancers performed, artwork was created by the young ones and a wonderful dinner provided at the end of the evening’s events. It was a great night and an important opportunity to help deepen people’s understanding about road trauma and the importance of road safety.
Heidelberg West, Victoria – Australia ‘Ngwala Youth Gathering Road Safety Session at Barrbunin Beek Gathering Place’ Photograph from ©Karen Robinson June 2023 Comment: Photograph featuring images taken during the Ngwala Youth Gathering session. Chris Harrison – Manager for Education at Amber Community Organisation and Volunteer Speaker Karen Robinson with her husband Mark attended as well. Karen shared her family’s road trauma story about her son Ben who was killed in a single vehicle car crash 2009 and about the impacts of road trauma. Attending the session were approximately 30 to 35 people consisting of youth, elders, parents, youth workers and leaders of the community. At the commencement of the session – aboriginal ceremonial dancers performed, artwork was created by the young ones and a wonderful dinner provided at the end of the evening’s events. It was a great night and an important opportunity to help deepen people’s understanding about road trauma and the importance of road safety.

CONCLUSION

Volunteer Speaking helps both me and my husband feel like we are doing something that will hopefully help to save lives and reduce serious injury caused by road trauma.  And in the hope that road users don’t become their family’s road trauma story – in memory of our beautiful boy Ben.

And…

Photography overall – is just another way to improve my sense of well-being and at the same time – helps me be creative. Being out and about experiencing the natural wonders of the world and the creatures it inhabits is a real privilege for sure. It really does rejuvenate the body and soul. The inclusion of documentary-style photography is helping me to expand on my existing photography skills and ensures my creative endeavours remain a strong focus in my life and in turn, makes me happy…

© Karen Robinson – July 2023

Karen Robinson’s Instagram click the link here!



Please click here to visit my ‘Photography – About’ page where you will be able to find blog links and photographs about other photographic adventures…


POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH:  Improving one’s sense of well-being using art, creative writing, photography, blogging, and motivational speaking – my journey written by ©Karen Robinson.  Please click here for my latest blog news!

							

		
		
	


				
					
	

		

						
My Volunteering 2018:  “Shine a Light on Road Safety” Written by Karen Robinson

			
						

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“Shine a Light on Road Safety”


 


 


 
 
 
  
 Shine a Light on Road Safety 2018 – Road Trauma Support Services Victoria 
 
 
  
  


 


 


INTRODUCTION


My name is Karen Robinson and my 25-year-old son Ben was killed in a single-car crash outside of Bendigo, Victoria – Australia in November 2009. He was travelling at 140km with a blood alcohol reading of 0.08 when he hit a kangaroo, lost control of his vehicle, and struck two trees.


I said to Ben once, that if he kept up his risky driver behaviour, I might have a police officer knocking at our front door. Unfortunately, that day did come, where our family received the news of Ben’s tragic death, via our local police.


Our family want drivers, and all road users, to think about Ben’s story in the hope that they will be safe and responsible drivers. Ben’s story is a reminder that from the very first drink you consume compromises your ability to make good decisions.


Whilst it is difficult to tell Ben’s story on behalf of my family, knowing that by sharing our family’s road trauma experience, can and does, help others understand better the importance of road safety.  It can help save lives and prevent serious injury caused by road trauma.


If being part of Road Trauma Support Services Victoria’s Organisation, telling my family’s road trauma story, and being part of the education team – can help prevent road trauma from affecting other families, this for us, is a most worthy of causes. This is why campaigns such as Shine a Light on Road Safety are vital; to help people think about what sort of driver/road user they are so that they, don’t end up being their family’s road trauma story…


 




“Be a safe and responsible driver”


“Don’t be your family’s road trauma story…”




		
		


 




“In loving memory of my son Ben James Robinson –


forever missed”




Written by Karen Robinson April 2018




 


ABOUT SHINE A LIGHT ON ROAD SAFETY


“Road Trauma Support Services Victoria’s Shine a Light on Road Safety campaign is to raise awareness, to stop deaths and injuries on our roads and to raise funds to support those impacted by road trauma: #shinealightonroadsafety (RTSSV 2018)”.


Friday 4 May motorists are asked to turn on headlights to remember those impacted by road trauma and show your commitment to road safety (RTSSV 2018).


Sunday 6 May there is a community walk at Albert Park Lake to enable community participation in advocating for safer roads (RTSSV 2018).


ILLUMINATIONS


Australian landmarks will be illuminated in yellow for road safety from Monday 30 April to Sunday 6 May; thanks to the support of key partners including the Victorian Government, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), VicRoads, Victoria Police and campaign sponsors (RTSSV 2018).


KEY CAMPAIGN MESSAGES


    

  • Road safety is everyone’s responsibility
    • 

  • Giving the community voice about road trauma
    • 

  • Our counselling and support services are available free and unlimited to anyone impacted by road trauma (RTSSV 2018).
    • 



THE ORGANISATION


Road Trauma Support Services Victoria “is a not-for-profit organisation contributing to the safety and wellbeing of Victorian road users. We provide counselling and support to people impacted by road trauma, and address attitudes and behaviours of road users through education. We are committed to educating the community and raising public awareness about road trauma and how it affects people’s lives; we do this in part by sharing personal stories about road trauma (RTSSV 2018)”.


 


CONCLUSION


As Ben’s mum – my road safety message for all road users:


“Be a safe and responsible driver – don’t be your families road trauma story”


 
 
 
  
 Shine a Light on Road Safety – Road Trauma Support Services Victoria – Get Involved! 
 
 
  
  


REGISTER HERE!




 


Please click here to visit my volunteering page where you will be able to find blog links and photographs about other photographic adventures…


© Karen Robinson – April 2018


While you are here – please check out my About page!  


POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH:  Improving one’s sense of wellbeing using art, creative writing, photography, blogging and public speaking – my journey written by ©Karen Robinson.  Please click here for my latest blog news!