Throughout September, locals Vanessa and Steve Wellman and their daughters Chelsea and Tilley, dedicated themselves to raising awareness for Road Safety Awareness Month by taking on a unique challenge — climbing the stairs beside the iconic Howitt Park slide 200 times over the course of the month.
On September 27, the Wellmans completed their final climb, cheered on by family, friends and community members who gathered to celebrate their inspiring commitment.
Their efforts weren’t just about fitness — they were about making a difference. Through their not-for-profit organisation, Eyes On The Road For Koby, created in honour of their late son, the Wellmans continue to promote safer driving habits and support vital road safety initiatives.
Funds raised during the challenge will go toward supporting organisations such as The Road Safety Foundation, Amber Community, and the L2P Program, as well as helping launch a local sponsorship program to provide young drivers the opportunity to complete defensive driving courses.
To help boost fundraising efforts, a community raffle was held, with generous support from local businesses who donated a fantastic range of prizes. The draw took place on Saturday, October 25, with winners from near and far taking home an array of prizes — from charcuterie carts and gym memberships to accommodation vouchers and driving lessons.
Raffle winners were: Darcey Wilson, Lauren Austin, Caitlin Nichols, Kelsey Knight, Taila Sharp, Billy Shaw, Derek VanBraam, Sarah Stewart, Pip Dunsmuir, Shaun Jeffery, Brianna T, Sasha Blanch, Lisa Berry, Rachel Wagstaff, Nicole Smith, Christine Macpherson, Carolyn Shanahan, Angela Blair, and Mikayla Shaw.
The Wellmans expressed heartfelt gratitude to all local sponsors and supporters who helped make the event such a success, saying that every contribution — big or small — plays a part in saving lives on the road.
“Our goal is to keep the conversation going. Every step we take and every dollar raised helps remind people that one distracted moment can change lives forever,”
Vanessa said.
The Wellmans encourage everyone to stay alert, make good decisions, put phones away, and keep eyes on the road — to ensure that no more families suffer avoidable loss on
our roads.
