ON Easter Saturday the RAC’s elephant in the Wheatbelt mysteriously reappeared at Avon Park, York.
More of the elephant will be seen in the region as it carries the road safety message and provokes conversation on its travels.
The Shire of York, RAC, York Police, RoadWise, DFES, York Fire and Rescue Services, St John Ambulance and the SES - all the local emergency services, put on an event to raise awareness of the road safety problems in the Wheatbelt.
Around 250 community members and visitors to York dropped in to join the conversation.
The event was opened by agricultural region member Paul Brown, who spoke passionately about the factors all need to consider - fatigue, speeding, drink and drug driving, distraction and seatbelts.
Not only was Mr Brown prepared to speak about these topics, he also agreed to be the volunteer to be extracted by the emergency services from the ‘vehicle crash’.
He did confess to being a bit worried when the jaws of life came out, but was much happier when the St John volunteers got him on the stretcher.
Campaign co-ordinator Daniel Newman of RAC supported the event, bringing a display and arranging the children’s entertainment.
The green Towards Zero road safety trailer was manned by Cliff Simpson of WALGA’s RoadWise program.
Mr Newman and Mr Simpson were available to engage visitors on the subject, as were members of all the emergency services.
The event concluded after about three hours. A good time was had by all, except when York Police officer-in-charge Mark Gubanyi ruined it all by giving the elephant a ticket for being in a no standing zone.
