Maxwell Murray, Charlie McCallum, and Ethan Gruber.
An important part of the Deniliquin High School’s Driver Education Program is giving young people the chance to feel what it’s like behind the wheel of a car.
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In controlled conditions, they are given the opportunity to do laps of the Deniliquin Sporting Car Club track with local volunteers.
It’s just one of the hands-on activities the Year 10 students rotate through to prepare them for life on the road.
They have also been learning first aid, car maintenance, and visiting agencies involved in road trauma.
When the Pastoral Times visited the car club track on Wednesday, the students were already feeling the benefits.
Izzy Pearn described the session as “really, really fun” and a “worthwhile experience.”
Ethan Gruber said he was “thankful for the volunteers”, while Catie Michael praised the instructors for being “very patient.”
Volunteer instructor Neil Buckley said the challenge was new for many participants.
“They’re driving manual cars, which a lot of them have no idea about,” he explained.
“They’ve been well behaved as per normal.”
Car Club member and coordinator Gavan Nolan said despite a few stalls and spin outs along the way, students embraced the learning curve.
“From the very basics, we teach them all from scratch (about how to handle a car),” Mr Nolan said.
“The improvement by the end of the day is just brilliant.”
A key feature of the Driver Education Program has been the strong support from the community.
More than 50 volunteers have stepped up to lend a hand, ensuring students receive guidance from experienced locals and emergency responders.
Their contribution has been vital in helping shape the next generation of safe drivers on Deniliquin’s roads.
The Driver Education Committee also expresses thanks to the groups, businesses and individuals who provide financial support to allow the program to run each year.
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