We’re proud to share that we have once again been recognised by TAC Victoria for our leadership in promoting road safety within our community. This year, we received $2,500 as part of the TAC and AFL Victoria Club Rewards Program, taking our total to $25,400 raised for our club.
Since first participating in 2021, St Mary’s has successfully secured funding every year, including a $10,000 grant in its inaugural year, the program’s highest level of recognition.
This recognition highlights our ongoing and outstanding commitment to embedding a strong culture of road safety across our club, one that extends well beyond game day and into the everyday lives of our players, volunteers, parents, and supporters. By taking part in this program, clubs like ours directly support the TAC’s mission to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on Victorian roads.
President Mark Stanley shared the importance of the TAC Club Rewards program.
“To have received more than $25,000 through this program over six consecutive years is a fantastic achievement for our club. But beyond the funding, it’s about using our platform as a community sporting club to make a positive difference.”
“Sport brings people together, and if the messages we’re sharing encourage even one person to slow down or make a safer decision behind the wheel, that’s something we can all be proud of.”
We thank TAC Victoria and AFL Victoria for their ongoing support and acknowledge everyone in our community who continues to champion safer roads.
Our 2026 Road Safety Initiatives
This year, the focus was on slowing down on the road and helping the community make safer choices behind the wheel. Our 2026 campaign included several initiatives:
- Road Safety Review: Our completely original campaign this year fortnightly social media series putting road safety behaviours under review. Inspired by the familiar format of sporting performance reviews, the campaign assessed everyday driving behaviours, recognising positive habits while calling out dangerous decisions behind the wheel.
- Participating in Road Safety Round: In the designated round in July, our players wore the TAC blue armbands, a visible reminder of our commitment to safer roads.
- TAC Slo-Mo campaign: We featured key moments from football and netball games in slow-motion, reminding everyone that some things, like driving, are better slowed down.
- Leadership video: Club leaders, coaches and supporters featured in videos explaining the significance of wearing blue armbands during Road Safety Round, helping reinforce road safety messages
- Regular promotion of key messages: Continually used TAC pre-made assets to share messages about speeding, distracted driving, learners and other topics, even using photos of our club to make the messages more impactful.
Thank you to Micaela Hanlon, Communications Manager, for creating and running these initiatives.
