BATHURST Rotary is seeking private and public funding to keep a long-running young driver program on the road.
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RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness), held annually on Pit Straight at Mount Panorama, has passed on life-saving advice to thousands of year 11 students from across the region.
But the course, which Bathurst Rotary recently took over from Bathurst East Rotary, has faced funding questions from Bathurst Regional Council in recent years.
Council agreed, in the end, to provide around $23,000 last year for the running of the five-day 2019 RYDA program, but not before councillors aired some frustrations.
"Back when this first started, RYDA was given three years with council funding to get them on their feet with this event, and from then on were to take it on their own, fund it and get sponsorship," Cr Warren Aubin said.
Cr Alex Christian also said the event needed to be self-sufficient.
Bathurst Rotary committee member Chris Bennett acknowledged this week that changes need to be made.
"Over recent years, there have been some concerns among Bathurst Regional Council that the organisers have not taken adequate steps to reduce the cost of the program to the students, instead asking council to waive all the steadily increasing costs of hiring Pit Straight," he said.
"Council has obliged up to now, but last year put the organisers on notice that this degree of generosity, now worth over $23,000, cannot continue indefinitely."
Council has obliged up to now, but last year put the organisers on notice.
Mr Bennett said Bathurst Rotary plans to keep the cost to students taking part in RYDA at a "modest" $15 for the day-long program, so is seeking "private and public funding to reduce the amount of council's fee waiver".
The RYDA program, attended by about 400 students each year at Mount Panorama from 15 high schools in the Bathurst, Lithgow and Oberon council areas, involves four facets: driver education, financing, police involvement and the personal experiences of other young drivers who have survived serious motor vehicle crashes.
"Please help Bathurst Rotary continue this worthwhile program which is specifically designed to save the lives of our young on the road," Mr Bennett said.
Those who would like to help are asked to contact Chris Bennett on chris@abroearth.com or 0418 646 444.
