THE brother of Josh Prestney, who was among four police officers killed in the Eastern Freeway tragedy in 2020, will undertake an epic three-week run from from Mildura to the Victoria Police Memorial in Melbourne.
Alex Prestney, also an officer and a senior constable with the Highway Patrol, aims to raise awareness of road safety when he sets out on the 550km journey at the start of August.
Each of the journey’s 19 legs is 30-40km and it will pass through towns including Ouyen, Woomelang, Wycheproof, Charlton, Bendigo and Kyneton.
Sen-Const Prestney said he hoped to raise awareness for the issue of road safety and raise funds for assistance programs to improve road-user behaviour, and support victims of road trauma.
“Losing my brother on the Eastern Freeway and what happened in Mildura with Bria Joyce (the Mildura Highway Patrol officer killed in a road crash last year), I wanted to make a difference somehow. I wanted to do something that was outlandish and extravagant but could also make a difference,” he said.
“I am passionate about running and road safety, being a Highway Patrol (officer) for four years, this gave me the best springboard to see what i could do.”
“It is going to be a massive challenge but also exciting to make a difference in a small or significant way.”
Sen-Const Prestney said he knows first-hand the effect that road trauma can have on friends and families of the victim.
“I have personal experience dealing with road trauma and the knock-on effect that follows. We were lucky to be able to have such amazing support, but there are thousands of people who have lost loved ones and it wasn’t on such a huge scale and they didn’t get the same support we did,” he said.
“The money will be going to the Amber Community, who provide free counselling to the victims of road trauma.”
Sen-Const Prestney urged people to be safe of the roads amid this year’s record high road toll.
“Even though people have been driving for years it is still the same beast you are manoeuvering. It is getting inside a one-a-half tonne missile that can be unpredictable, other people can be predictable,” he said.
“No one is a brilliant driver, everyone is learning and practicing, and you need to make sure you maintain that mindset while you are driving and follow the rules which are in place to protect you.”
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