Wheels in Motion Gawler are the recipients of a Peter Kittle vehicle, paid for by a Fund My Neighbourhood grant awarded late last year.

Members of the Wheels in Motion Gawler team, David Weatherley and Kirsten Impett, were thrilled with their new Toyota Yaris Hatch, which they received from Peter Kittle Toyota last Friday.

“We're really excited about Wheels in Motion Gawler getting underway, [and] extremely thankful for the Fund My Neighbourhood Grant,” Mr Weatherley said.

The receipt of the vehicle means that Wheels in Motion Gawler are now able to commence services to disadvantaged young learner drivers from 21 July.

Mr Weatherley explained that the program is designed to support Gawler youth – aged 17 to 25 – who don’t have access to a vehicle in their home, or access to a licensed supervising driver.“

[These drivers] will be provided access to a vehicle and a supervising driver enabling the youth to complete their mandatory 75 hours supervised driving necessary to attain their provisional Licence,” Mr Weatherley said.

“[But] the program does not replace the need for licensed instructors it only provides the supervised driving hours. The mentors can only attest to hours completed.”

Local Member of Parliament Tony Piccolo, was impressed with the new vehicle and grateful to the volunteers who sacrifice so much of their own time to contribute to the wellbeing and opportunities of the next generation.

“Successfully obtaining a driver’s licence can be the difference in getting and keeping a job,” Mr Piccolo stated.

“The Wheels in Motion Gawler volunteers are offering an incredibly valuable service to some of our community’s most disadvantaged young people – a service most of us take for granted”.

The Fund My Neighbourhood grant program - which financed the Wheels in Motion vehicle purchase - was recently announced to be axed by the new State Liberal Government.

Answering a question in State Parliament, Liberal Treasurer Rob Lucas described the program as wasteful.

“It was a poor program, it was a poor use of resources and, when asked prior to the election, we unashamedly refused to give a commitment to wasting another $20 million on this particular program,” Mr Lucas told the Legislative Council.

Mr Piccolo has firmly opposed this view.“The glee and gloating with which the axing Decision was announced was a slap in the face of local communities who had worked hard to deliver necessary and cost-effective projects for their neighbourhoods,” he said.

“The Decision and announcement smacks of arrogance.

“I would like Premier Marshall and Treasurer Lucas to come to Gawler and tell the 15 community groups, and all the local people who voted for them, that their projects were a waste of money and time.”

Wheels in Motion Gawler’s initial session on 21 July is designed for both Gawler youth and driver mentors, and will be held at Café Nova. Registrations can be made at the following website: www.wheelsinmotiongawler.org.au.