LIONS Club of Kerang members were as busy as they have been in 32 years at their Atkinson Park Driver Reviver Site on Thursday and Friday.
This year was the first time the site doubled as an official Transport Accident Commission Pitstop location, which saw TAC staff members work with Lions volunteers to offer a free barbecue, barista brewed coffee and games for kids.
Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Lions Club member and site co-ordinator, Faye Burton said hundreds of northbound travellers had already stopped for a break.
“It was absolutely hectic this morning; we gave out more than 100 cuppas by 10.30am,” she said.
“There have been a lot of people from Melbourne and plenty from the regional centres like Bendigo and Ballarat.”
The site ran from 9am to 12 midnight on Thursday, with the Kerang State Emergency Service unit taking charge in the evening, while the Lions Club was back on deck from 9am to 2pm on Friday.
While all offerings were free, Ms Burton said most travellers gave generously in support of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
“The donation tin has been filling up nicely; most people are quite generous,” she said.
Ms Burton said it was a coup for the site – the last official stop before Mildura – to be designated as a Pitstop.
“The TAC had heard that we had a really good set up here so someone came to have a look and was very impressed,” she said.
“This will definitely boost our fundraising effort, which is really exciting.”
