From tragedy comes help for others

By Casey Neill
SEVEN young hills drivers will be safer on the road thanks to a free driving course.
Each entrant in this year’s Anthony and Travis Hall Driver Education Memorial awards received a car control training course.
The winners were Selby’s Lyarna Brown, Shane Vanreymersdale of Kalorama, Ashley McKay from Monbulk, Cockatoo’s Alicia Wilson, Scott Brown of Upper Ferntree Gully, Anthony Ham from Sassafras-Ferny Creek and Upwey’s Jessica Jacobs.
Anthony Hall, 15 and his 14-year-old brother Travis were killed in a road accident in Cockatoo in January 1995.
Both were members of Upwey Junior Fire Brigade at the time of the accident. Anthony was the Junior Captain.
The memorial fund was established in their honour seven years ago to help prevent similar road tragedies.
The brothers were at a friend’s house in Cockatoo. They planned to walk to a nearby milk bar but accepted a lift from a friend in what would be a tragic mistake.
The car was seen and heard travelling at high speeds on the return trip.
The young driver failed to make a bend and hit a tree. The Hall boys were killed instantly.
The teens were the sons of former Upwey CFA First Lieutenant Peter Hall and his wife Liz.
The couple recently participated in a TAC campaign highlighting how speeding could tear families apart.
Donations to the memorial fund can be posted to Secretary Upwey Fire Brigade, PO Box 1017 Upwey, Victoria 3158.