Congupna hosted a powerful road safety and harm prevention session presented by YouChoose Program founder Melissa McGuinness on Tuesday evening, aimed at instilling sound decision-making on and off the roads in the assembled group of teens from both clubs.
Country sport members typically undertake more travel than grassroots counterparts elsewhere, and Congupna junior development officer Stacey Towers said it was invaluable to welcome Melissa for the presentation.
“(Melissa) reflected on how players will do anything for their mates on the football field,” Towers said.
“She talks about young people having the leadership to stand up and call out their mates.
“There was a lot of reflection; she asked the players to not picture herself up there, but to picture your family members talking.
“No-one wants to put their son or daughter in a coffin.”
For YouChoose founders Melissa and Peter McGuinness, their mission to educate young adults on road safety and trauma was born from a tragedy of their own.
In 2012, son Jordan, under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, caused a crash that claimed the lives of five people - including himself.
It’s the grim story at the centre of the inception of the organisation, but out of it has come a mission to advocate young people to make good choices.
And when Melissa came to the region recently, Towers saw an opportunity to hopefully make a difference in the lives of both clubs’ youth stars.
“Living in Tally, a lot of families I know have kids around that age about to start driving, so I approached them to see if they wanted to come on board,” she said.
“I had some feedback from parents saying they were super impressed with the presentation and saying it sparked a conversation that normally wouldn’t have happened.”
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