The uptake of BRAKE by secondary schools across Queensland is amazing.  We now have over forty schools in these areas:  Logan, Ipswich, Scenic Rim, Brisbane, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, Gladstone and the Central highlands & Coalfields.

We are just so happy to help as many schools, young people, families and communities as we can and are overjoyed with this uptake.

Such an amazing uptake has presented us with funding issues as we are a not for profit organisation and most of us are volunteers.  We also provide BRAKE FREE to all schools and students, which includes all materials, resources, in-service training, support, IT support, ongoing student contact and follow-up as well as the parents/carers program. 

This has also presented some very difficult decisions for us in that we are unable to provide the program to some schools in areas where we cannot provide support due to lack of funds.  This is extremely difficult for us to do as we know the program works, but we just cannot take...

In my previous blog I wrote about the portrait of Trevor Hendy by Andrew Grech.  The portrait was kindly donated by Trevor and Andrew to be auctioned during the Saltwater Festival with the proceeds to be donated to BRAKE.

The auction was a great success with the winning bid reaching the reserve price.  The winning bidder has asked to remain anonymous.  We at BRAKE thank them tremendously for their support - but even more so that they wished to help BRAKE and our young people stay safe on our roads - they did not want any publicity for themselves, just a desire to help our young people. 

Of course, we once again thank Trevor and Andrew for their wonderful support.

In a previous blog I wrote about the fantastic portrait of Trevor Hendy by Andrew Grech.

Unfortunately, we had technical problems and the most recent blogs, including about Trevor and Andrew, were 'lost'.

Andrew is well renowned artist, with a wealth of world-wide experience and success, who donated his incredible talent to paint Trevor and then donate his work to be auctioned with all proceeds to come to BRAKE.

Trevor himself sat for the painting and met with Andrew a number of time for the painting and also donated his time and of course his name to assist us.

It was interesting talking to Andrew, in how he captures the spirit and essence of the person his is painting so that the painting represents more than a just a 'likeness' of the person.  I believe that he has succeeded in this painting of Trevor - the inner strength and honesty of Trevor just shines through I believe.

It was wonderful meeting and talking to both Trevor and Andrew, hearing just how much they help our young people in their own individual ways through their specific talents.  It is quite humbling, I believe, to hear such talented people, in completely different fields, talk about our future and the need to help our young people - yet both are very humble in how they do this and seek no reward or gratitude.

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A lot of work has been completed by members of the BRAKE family over the last few months to produce a 2010 BRAKE program. 

We held a BRAKE symposium in 2009 to obtain feedback and views from many people involved with BRAKE.  The Greenbank RSL was kind enough to sponsor the two day event for us.  The participation and idea sharing was fantastic and has assisted us greatly in updating the program - and making it even better.

We also sought and received feedback from participants, teachers and sponsors throughout the year and this was also incorporated into the program.

The 2010 program will be more user friendly for teachers, as well as far more visually friendly for our students and will be available on disc or secure download from our website.

The 2010 program is quite exciting in its presentation and appearance and we are sure teachers will enjoy the ease that video files will now play.

A menu for easier use has also been included in the program.

Peter Smith was instrumental...