It's been a flying start to 2013 for BRAKE meaning that this is my first blog for the year. A lot has happened since my last blog and over the next few weeks we will publish articles about what is happening with BRAKE and what we believe 2013 will bring for BRAKE, secondary schools, students, parents/carers and the wider community. We were successful in applying for and receiving a grant from the Jupiter's Casino Community Benefit Fund (JCCBF) to update our web-engine. This is excting news for...

BRAKE held it's AGM on July 26 2012. At the AGM current Board members Belinda Duncan, Michael Pattinson and myself were re-elected.  Joining the Board is Craig Panagiris, who was also appointed the Company Secretary and Richard Ponsonby who was also elected as the BRAKE Chair. I welcome both Craig and Richard to BRAKE.  This is an exciting phase for BRAKE as Craig and Richard bring a wealth of experience to us.  I am excited about the future for BRAKE and that we may be abl...

On Tuesday 10 July 2012 I was invited to the meeting of Jimboomba Rotary where BRAKE was presented with funding to print car stickers for the community. This support is gratefully received and we look forward to seeing the stickers on cars in the area.

Steve has decided to update the program after 18 months of the current one.  There is a lot of work going into the update with people volunteering time, energy and knowledge into the update.  The update is based from feedback from teachers and participants, as well as current research and of course the availability of people who can help us. Steve is putting a lot of his own time into reqriting the program also in an effort to ensure that the BRAKE message is loud and clear as well ...

BRAKE has had a big start in 2012 with continuing and new schools.  We thank those schools continuing BRAKE for their students and communities, and welcome our new schools on board. The quality of teachers involved with BRAKE is excellent, and we thank them for their passion and committment.  Not only are the teachers committed to students - they are committed to road safety and our communities.  It really is a pleasure to work with such wonderful people. The feedback tha...

On the 3rd November 2011 BRAKE announced the first 500 students on the Gold Coast to be awarded the one Queensland Certificate of Education point for completing the initial BRAKE program. The event was held in Cavill Mall, Surfers Paradise - sponsored by the Surfers Paradise Alliance, which we are extremely grateful for.  We are most appreciative of the time and assistance provide in ensuring the success of such a wonderful event. BRAKE also announced that 50% of Gold Coast sec...

BRAKE recently received a grant from Gold Coast City Council for $25,000 to continue both schools currently providing BRAKE and to continue the uptake of new schools. The GCCC has continued to be a major sponsor of BRAKE on the Gold Coast and we thank them for their ongoing and much appreciated assistance in bringing BRAKE to the Gold Coast. As you would all be aware BRAKE relies solely on sponsorship and community support in order to provide the program free of charge to our students in our...

Jimboomba Rotary and Jimboomba Quota recently held a BRAKE information session in Jimboomba and donated the proceeds to BRAKE.  This is wonderful support from these two wonderful community organisations in the Jimboomba area. The BRAKE Curriculum and Training Manager, Steve Allan, attended the evening and gave a presentation which was well received. The local paper, the Jimboomba Times, carried a great article about the night and the wonderful support of Jimboomba Rotary and Quota. We at...

The introduction in Queensland of the requirement for a Learner Driver to accumulate 100 hours on a log book prior to being able to 'sit' for their licence is based on international, national, and state research.  It isn't based on what is a good idea for our kids, or revenue gaining, or even an attempt to deflect money from driving schools - all of which I have heard many variations of. Research clearly shows that 120 hours practice can substantially reduce the chances of a young driver c...

BRAKE™ has launched an updated logo to properly reflect us both as an organisation and our young person road safety product.  We believe that the new logo reflects 'Driving knowledge for life' that we believe our young people need to stay safe on our roads.  We strongly believe that we as a community need to support and 'drive' such vital knowledge. I hope that you like our new 'image' and logo, we are certainly excited and pleased.

The Greenbank RSL recently made a financial donation to BRAKE™ to assist with delivery of BRAKE in the Logan area.  This follows donations from the Greenbank RSL in the past, for which we are extremely grateful. This donation from Greenbank RSL further highlights what communities and businesses can do to help keep our young people safe on our roads and highlights community involvement from the Greenbank RSL itself. Such support is vital to us in order to provide BRAKE within our com...

The Logan City Rec and Sports Club, located on Alba Lane, Logan City recently made a donation to BRAKE™ to assist in providing BRAKE to Browns Plains SHS, Kingston College and Loganlea SHS.  This is great assistance from the club and highlights their community spirit and desire to keep our young people safe.   By making this donation to assist the schools, Logan City Rec and Sporting Club has joined our Adopt a School campaign where the community can adopt schools and assist in keep...

The Gold Coast Blaze continue to partner us and their support is is invaluable in helping to get the road safety message not only to our young people, but our wider community. The Gold Coast Blaze recently sponsored 20 students tickets to home games on the Gold Coast. Our BRAKE Gold Coast Manager, Tony Unicomb, recently conducted a raffle at two of our BRAKE schools, Nerang SHS and Pacific Pines SHS.  10 lucky students at each school won tickets to a home game at the G...

This morning we held a BRAKE Workshop to work on planning, development and growth. It was a truly amazing morning with many of our volunteers attending and taking part. The ideas and input from all was wonderful and I am excited about what this workshop, together with future workshops and meetings will produce for BRAKE and of course our communities. I have spoken before of the wonderful partnership that we have formed with Logan Community Branches - Bendigo Bank, not only through financial s...

In 2009 the Queensland Studies Authority approved one point towards the Queensland Certificate of Education for students who complete the approved BRAKE course. The point was offered this year for the first time and a number of year 12 students at various schools offering BRAKE completed their BRAKE studies and have been awarded the point.  The locations where students live who received this point reflect just how large Queensland is, but also the spread of BRAKE.  The geographic loc...

The Gold Coast City Council has continued sponsorship of BRAKE on the Gold Coast this year.  This is the third year that GCCC has sponsored us and we are extremely grateful to them and proud that a council such as GCCC considers us worthy of such wonderful support.  Our grant this year was $25,000 in order to continue the schools already delivering BRAKE on the coast, but also to assist other schools to come on board. When GCCC came on board three years ago we had four schools and wit...

In my earlier blog I hightlighted the valued and ongoing support of Gold Coast Blaze in partnering BRAKE to help lower the young driver road toll.  Their support is incredible and greatly appreciated. Part of the BRAKE course includes outlining to young people issues with tunnel vision and distraction through use of film aids. Our two BRAKE Gold Coast Blaze Ambassadors kindly volunteered to make a film for this reason and two more players, Jason Cadee and Shaun Gleeson also volu...

On Wednesday 20 October 2010 at Southport State High School Gold Coast Blaze announced the BRAKE Gold Coast Blaze Ambassadors as part of the Blaze continued partnership with BRAKE in relation to young drivers. Chris Goulding and Adam Gibson our our BRAKE Gold Coast Blaze Ambassadors this year.  That two such high profile and talented players are willing to be ambassadors and give time and effort to our young people is not only fantastic for BRAKE and great support for our young people, it ...

The Logan Community Bank Branches Bendigo Bank has partnered BRAKE in the Logan City Council area so that all schools within the area may access BRAKE.  This is incredible news not only for BRAKE, but the community in Logan.  Logan Community Bank Branches Bendigo Bank have provided sponsorship of $40,000 to allow a BRAKE Coordinator to manage the program within Logan. We were presented with a cheque for $22,000 on October 13 at the Logan Community Forum held at the Logan Rec...

On the 28th May 2010 Steve and I went to Capella State High School where our Central Highlands and Coalfields BRAKE Coordinator, Cathie Flint, had organised BRAKE in-service training for our BRAKE schools.  It was wonderful to meet teachers who would be teaching the program, they are a wonderful group of people. Steve also facilitated a program for Capella SHS school students.  They were a great group, Capella and their families must be very proud of them.  Their interaction...

The uptake of BRAKE by secondary schools across Queensland is amazing.  We now have over forty schools in these areas:  Logan, Ipswich, Scenic Rim, Brisbane, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, Gladstone and the Central highlands & Coalfields. We are just so happy to help as many schools, young people, families and communities as we can and are overjoyed with this uptake. Such an amazing uptake has presented us with funding issues as we are a not for profit organisation and mo...

In my previous blog I wrote about the portrait of Trevor Hendy by Andrew Grech.  The portrait was kindly donated by Trevor and Andrew to be auctioned during the Saltwater Festival with the proceeds to be donated to BRAKE. The auction was a great success with the winning bid reaching the reserve price.  The winning bidder has asked to remain anonymous.  We at BRAKE thank them tremendously for their support - but even more so that they wished to help BRAKE and our young people stay...

In a previous blog I wrote about the fantastic portrait of Trevor Hendy by Andrew Grech. Unfortunately, we had technical problems and the most recent blogs, including about Trevor and Andrew, were 'lost'. Andrew is well renowned artist, with a wealth of world-wide experience and success, who donated his incredible talent to paint Trevor and then donate his work to be auctioned with all proceeds to come to BRAKE. Trevor himself sat for the painting and met with Andrew a number of time for the ...

A lot of work has been completed by members of the BRAKE family over the last few months to produce a 2010 BRAKE program.  We held a BRAKE symposium in 2009 to obtain feedback and views from many people involved with BRAKE.  The Greenbank RSL was kind enough to sponsor the two day event for us.  The participation and idea sharing was fantastic and has assisted us greatly in updating the program - and making it even better. We also sought and received feedback from participants, ...

Late last year I met Caroline Russo at a nice little coffee shop at Nth Tamborine.  It was an accidental meeting, Caroline happened to walk in whilst I was there with a friend.  The friend happened to know Caroline and we were introduced. It turned out Caroline was a PR and Media Consultant and we got talking.  Caroline told me that she could help BRAKE.  Since that time Caroline has volunteered her time, which she doesn't have much of, tirelessly to helping us at BRAKE.
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As outlined in the previous blog, Gold Coast Blaze has partnered BRAKE in reducing the young driver road toll in our community. Our two BRAKE Gold Coast Blaze Ambassadors have taken part in a number of media releases and their knowledge of BRAKE, road safety and our young people is amazing. We have been privileged to be guests of Gold Coast Blaze at their home games and to watch the team play is amazing.  Of course, our favourites are Greg and Chris! We have been lucky to meet a num...

On 22 December 2009, Gold Coast Blaze announced a partnership with BRAKE with the appointment of two BRAKE Gold Coast Blaze Ambassadors - Greg Vanderjagt (No 21) and Chris Goulding (No 43). Our national Ambassador, Noni Hazlehurst, welcomed Greg and Chris to the BRAKE family at the home of the Gold Coast Blaze, the Gold Coast Convention Centre at Broadbeach. The partnership with the Gold Coast Blaze is fantastic for BRAKE, but also for young driver road safety, and roa...

Well everyone is well and truly back from the festive season.  A lot has happened with BRAKE since my last entry, so there is a lot to talk about. I'll be making quite a few entries over the next few days in order to share what we at BRAKE, and our partners, have been doing. The developments have been fantastic and quite exciting

Welcome to our new web-page - we are quite excited about this new site as it opens up so much, not only for BRAKE, but our members, sponsors and our community as well. Over the last few weeks a significant amount of work has gone into creating this new web site by Peter Smith from Info-Onscreen.  This new site is quite extensive - with yet more to come.  I really want to thank Peter for his tireless efforts and his wealth of experience and knowledge. It never ceases to amaze me ...

BRAKE Driver Awareness Program Distance Education Mode wins Innovation category in 2009 Queensland Road Safety Awards Yesterday I went to Parliament House together with other BRAKE people for the 2009 Queensland Road Safety Awards.  The BRAKE Driver Awareness Program Distance Education Mode developed by Tamara Warner of the Capricornia School of Distance Education developed and facilitates. The BRAKE Driver Awareness Program Distance Education Mode won the Innovation category at...