Greater Shepparton City Council, in partnership with local emergency services and road safety advocacy groups, will host the Walk for Road Safety in Shepparton.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“Every fatality and serious injury on our roads leaves a lasting impact on families, friends and our community.”
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Those were the words of City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali in announcing the Walk for Road Safety, which will be held on Sunday, May 18.
To be held at Victoria Park Lake, the event aims to raise awareness about road safety, promote safe driving practices, support a reduction in traffic incidents in our community and honour the impact of road trauma.
The main community walk or wheel activity will start at noon and encourages community members to walk or wheel around on their bicycle, wheelchair or mobility scooter.
Participants will have the opportunity to honour the lives that have been lost and forever changed by road trauma by placing a wish card on the hill at Victoria Park Lake.
By participating, community members will help spread the important message of road safety and contribute to reducing the impacts of road trauma.
Greater Shepparton City Council, in partnership with local emergency services and road safety advocacy groups, will host the walk as part of National Road Safety Week.
Greater Shepparton City Council is the first local government to host a Road Safety Walk that supports Amber Community’s Shine a Light on Road Safety campaign
Cr Sali said the event was about both remembrance and responsibility.
“Walk for Road Safety is an opportunity to honour those affected by road trauma and to stand together in promoting safer driving behaviours,” he said.
“The event is a powerful way to raise awareness by walking side by side, learning together and having honest conversations about road safety.”
Amber Community Hume regional co-ordinator Carmel Maher said the event was incredibly important for community engagement and awareness about road safety.
She said it provided a chance to get people talking about this important issue.
“In Greater Shepparton there were 10 fatalities in 2024,” she said.
“And there were 53 serious injuries (from crashes).
Already this year there have been two fatal crashes in Greater Shepparton.
“You need to think about the choices you are making when you get behind the wheel of a car because they matter,” Ms Maher said.
Sharon O’Dwyer, who lost her son Mathew O’Dwyer to a car crash in 2021, will be guest speaker at the event. She is pictured with Amber Community Hume region co-ordinator Carmel Maher, who said people needed to think about the choices they made when they got behind the wheel of a car.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Shepparton Search and Rescue president Nacole Standfield, who has attended plenty of fatalities and other serious injury crashes in her 12 years with the volunteer group, urged drivers not to be complacent when driving and to pay attention.
She said the organisation attended many crashes where people had failed to give way.
Amber Community chief executive Bernadette Nugent said the Walk for Road Safety reflected the power of community partnerships in driving change.
“This initiative highlights the council’s strong commitment to promoting road safety and supporting those affected by road trauma,” she said.
“As a regional community, Greater Shepparton understands the devastating impact road incidents can have.”
Attendees are encouraged to wear yellow, the official colour of National Road Safety Week, as a symbol of remembrance, awareness and hope for safer roads.
The event will run be held at Shepparton’s Victoria Park Lake on Sunday from 10am to 3pm and will also feature family-friendly activities including children’s activities by Activities in the Park, giveaways, guest speakers, opportunities to interact with emergency services vehicles and personnel, and qualified car seat checks by Baby Bunting.
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