DARREN MONCRIEFF
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
NORTHERN Territory footballers have recounted their personal stories of heartache and loss in the hope of preventing others from experiencing the same.
AFL great Andrew McLeod, Alwyn Davey (Essendon, pictured), Austin Wonaeamirri (Melbourne), Steven Motlop (Geelong), Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide) and NT Thunder's Charlie Maher speak about the effects mixing alcohol with driving and its disastrous consequences has had on them and their families.
The players have lent their stories to RADD, the Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes Against Drink Driving, which, as its name suggests, uses well-known Australians to raise awareness of the dangers of drink-driving while highlighting safer alternatives.
Davey, the younger brother of Melbourne's Aaron, tells of how their father died while a passenger in a car with his intoxicated mate at the wheel. The Davey boys were barely 10 years old when the crash happened.
Wonaeamirri talks about his father's death on the Tiwi Islands in November last year, which he is still trying to come to terms with.
Steven Motlop tells of his grandfather's death when he was hit by a car driven by a drunk-driver when trying to cross a street.
The video, produced by Vimeo, is now airing on television across the country. It can be viewed by clicking on here.
RADD has compiled some facts and figures that make for a sobering read:
- In Australia, a major cause of death for people 18 to 25 is road accidents;
- Road fatalities in Australia are highest amongst the 18-25-year old age group, accounting for approx. 26 per cent of all road fatalities;
- The estimated cost to Australian communities of alcohol-related road accidents for the 18- to 25-year-old age bracket alone is nearly $1.6 billion per annum;
- Almost half those killed in drink-driving crashes are innocent victims ... someone's husband, wife, brother, sister, mother, father, daughter, son, partner, or friend.
Some of the key phrases RADD uses in its campaign are:
"It's fine to drink, but don't then get behind the wheel of a car."
"If you're going out, plan ahead."
"Designate a driver who won't drink and will get you home safely. Or catch a cab. Or stay at a friend's house. Anything but get behind the wheel when you've had a few."
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 20/07/2011 23:17