Lions Clubs support young drivers

Brendon Jones, Bronwyn Shearer, Jennire Ferguson, Emily Ryan, Adrian Miles, Bernie Cole and deputy mayor Ron Nelson. (Supplied)

A group of local Lions Clubs have come together to help provide a new vehicle for young people to improve their driving skills in Ocean Grove.

Lions Clubs Leopold, Ocean Grove Barwon Heads, Portarlington-Drysdale and Queenscliff Point Lonsdale have joined forces with Community Bank Leopold and the City of Greater Geelong to fund a new Kia Rio for the TAC’s L2P program.

The program pairs L-platers aged between 16 and 21 with volunteer driving mentors in supervised driving sessions, giving young people the chance to get driving experience and increase their supervised driving hours.

Last financial year saw 202 local learner drivers participate, with 56 of those graduating and successfully gaining their P-plates. Ocean Grove currently has five learners and seven mentors engaged in the program.

Leopold Lions Club president Rhiannon Russell said the L2P program was deserving of the support as it offered young people an opportunity to obtain a driver’s licence which otherwise may be beyond their reach.

“The L2P program certainly qualifies for the Lions organisation’s mantra of caring for and aiding the community,” Ms Russell said.

Secretary Bronwyn Shearer said Community Bank Leopold was proud to support the Lions clubs with funding over three years for the Geelong TAC L2P Program.

“Our commitment in working together to meet the needs of our community is well established and we are pleased to be involved in such a worthwhile project,” she said.

People interested in participating as a learner or mentor can apply on the L2P page at transport.vic.gov.au or email L2P@geelongcity.vic.gov.au or call the L2P project officer on 03 5272 5272.