Celebrating Excellence with Road Safety Awards

Every year, Road Safety Education Limited and our major partners recognise the contribution of individuals, schools, facilitators, Police members and community groups with their Supporting Excellence in Road Safety Awards. This year, we took advantage of the bright yellow spotlight and shone it on some hard-working supporters. We thank the nominees and awardees for sharing their time, expertise, energy and enthusiasm with us in an effort to make our roads a safer place for all.

BOC Ryda Champions

Awarded to individuals (traditionally Rotarians) who have gone above and beyond in supporting road safety education in their regions.

Supporting Excellence in Road Safety Awards – 2026

Marilyn Phillips & Ken Potter (Rotary Club of West Wollongong, NSW, Australia)

From West Wollongong Rotary Club, Marilyn and Ken have long been the heart of Ryda workshops in the Illawarra – coordinating volunteers to guide students between sessions, bringing and setting up the gear, and helping ensure everything runs smoothly from start to finish.

They are also part of a broader network of Rotary clubs across the Illawarra who collectively support Ryda by funding venue and catering costs – ensuring schools have ongoing access to Ryda.

Rod O’Leary (Rotary Club of Carterton, NZ)

A long-time member of the Carterton Rotary Club, Rod has been a driving force behind the success of Ryda workshops across the Wairarapa. From coordinating volunteers across multiple Rotary clubs to providing morning tea and lunch and supporting every workshop on the ground, Rod’s commitment never wavers.

Always the first to arrive and the last to leave, Rod is hands-on in every detail – quietly ensuring each workshop runs smoothly for students, teachers and partners alike.

Toyota Community Award

Awarded to groups (often a Rotary organising committee or council group) that bring their community together to make Ryda available in their region.

Glenn Brown & the Yamba Ryda Organising Committee (Maclean, NSW, Australia)

For more than 17 years, Rotary clubs across Maclean, Iluka-Woombah, Yamba and Grafton Midday have come together to deliver Ryda in their region. Under Glenn’s leadership, this dedicated group has built something truly special.

Through ongoing fundraising and collective effort, the Committee covers the full cost of the program – including student fees, transport, venue and catering – ensuring every student can take part, at no cost to schools or RSE.

It’s a model of what’s possible when a community comes together with a shared purpose.

Rhys Jenkins, Rotary District 9999 (South Island, NZ)

As District 9999 Youth Portfolio Chair and a member of the Rotary Club of Alexandra, Rhys has played a key role in strengthening support for Ryda across the region. Working alongside local Rotary clubs, he has helped build momentum, encourage involvement, and ensure both funding and volunteers are in place.

From supporting new schools to participate, to connecting clubs and keeping communication flowing, Rhys has helped bring people together around a shared goal – supporting young people to stay safe on our roads.

This award recognises not just Rhys’ contribution, but the collective impact of a community working together.

Bridgestone School Award

Awarded to schools who have shown ongoing commitment to participating in Ryda, not just through the workshops but with curriculum work, pre/post evaluation, road safety policies and other initiatives that re-visit the Ryda learning and help create and all of school road safety culture.

Carlingford High School (Carlingford, NSW, Australia)

A long-standing Ryda partner, Carlingford High School puts more than 250 students through the program each year, with strong support from teacher Christine Mitchell, a passionate advocate for road safety education.

Their impact goes beyond their own experience. The school has worked alongside us to help share messages more broadly – it was Carlingford students who shared their hopes, ambitions and plans for the future – helping create a video that shaped a simple but powerful message: “We owe them a safe road to their future.”

Rosmini College (Takapuna, NZ)

For 19 years, Rosmini College has been a committed partner of the Ryda programme – returning year after year and reinforcing the value of the learning with their students. That consistency matters. And it shows.

As Geoff Wood, Organising Teacher, shared: “I have never had such a positive response from students post-workshop – students coming up to me saying they appreciated the opportunity to participate, with [positive feedback] from parents overnight.”

Rosmini College doesn’t just attend – they use Ryda as it’s designed, to actively build a culture of road safety within their community, reinforcing key messages and supporting students to apply what they learn in the real world.

Facilitator Award (sponsored in NZ by NZ Steel)

Awarded to exceptional facilitators who embrace training and upskilling throughout their tenure with RSE and receive great feedback from students and teachers alike.

Courtenay Rufus (Melbourne, Vic, Australia)

A highly valued member of the Victorian Ryda team, Courtenay delivers workshops across a broad geographic area – from Lilydale to Warrnambool – bringing consistency, professionalism and energy to every session. He combines a deep understanding of best practice education with practical, engaging delivery that bring the learning to life.

Beyond the classroom, Courtenay has played a key role in supporting the rollout of the Driver Coach program, both in-person across Victoria and nationally online. He also extends the reach of Ryda through social media, creating and sharing content that reinforces key messages with the broader community. His versatility and commitment have had a lasting impact on both the quality and reach of the program.

Danielle Aldridge (NZ)

Danielle is an exceptional facilitator, delivering almost every Ryda session in her region as well as delivering our online Driver Coach programme for parents. Her impact is clear in the feedback – consistently achieving 5 out of 5 from teachers, who regularly comment on the quality of her delivery and the way she connects with students.

Always willing to step in and support others, Danielle goes above and beyond on the day. Based in Auckland, she also regularly offers her time to assist in the North when needed. A true team player and a valued member of the Ryda community – Danielle brings our learning to life.

Boral Police Award

Awarded to exceptional Police Officers who bring passion and dedication to facilitating the Road Choices sessions and promote the learning to their local schools.

Senior Constable Mark Millar (Qld)

Behind every Ryda workshop is a team of people helping young drivers connect real-world experience with the choices they make on the road. For Police, it’s also a chance to work on the prevention side of road safety – supporting young people before things go wrong.

A long-time Ryda facilitator, Mark consistently delivers our Road Choices session with professionalism, clarity and care. He builds strong rapport with students, stays true to the program, and is always willing to support whenever his roster allows. It’s clear he values the opportunity to work with young people – and they respond in kind.

AMI Student Award

Awarded to Ryda students who take their learning beyond the classroom and into the real world.

New to Richmond View School this year, Zane has embraced the programme and, more importantly, put it into action. He looks out for his mates – stepping in when something doesn’t feel right, like when a learner driver was about to give someone a lift, or when a car didn’t seem roadworthy. It’s about backing his mates to make safer choices.

He’s even taken those conversations home – applying his learning with his own family. That kind of courage – to speak up, to challenge, to influence others – is exactly what builds a safer road culture.

Congratulations to all the 2026 Supporting Excellence in Road Safety Education winners

We’re travelling across country with our partners during July-September to present the winners with their awards. Check back to see the photos as we post them.

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Supporting Excellence in Road Safety Awards – 2026