Jennifer Pittorino
Learning to drive is a hard enough experience as it is, let alone not having access to a supervising driver or car.
For the last five years Tony Cutrony has dedicated his time and patience to teach as a volunteer mentor to learner drivers across Hobsons Bay.
This is all done through the TAC L2P Program which Mr Cutrony discovered through the Laverton Community Hub.
“It is a very good program and very enjoyable,” he said.
With a teaching background, Mr Cutrony is a man of patience and brings it all down to helping people.
“Years ago I was a teacher and then I was in public service in the training section where I was involved in teaching adults,” he said.
“I am also a qualified language teacher to migrants English as a second language.”
Most mentors teach one student at a time, except for Mr Cutrony who is currently dividing his time between two students.
Over the years Mr Cutrony has taught eight students, something he is very proud of.
“They have all been very good and all have different skills and abilities,” he said.
“As a mentor , you have to adjust his or her driving style according to the student.”
The structure of the teaching depends on how many hours the student has driven, Mr Cutrony said most of the time they have only logged five or ten hours.
“That means we need to get them up to 120 hours, I usually do two hours of driving with them a week.”
Mr Cutrony said he couldn’t recommend the program enough, if you enjoy driving and helping others this could be your calling.
The cars have been provided by both Hobsons Bay and Wyndham councils, so no personal cars will be required for use.
TAC L2P Project Coordinator Naheed Akhtrar said the program is always looking for new mentors.
“This program is more or less about creating a bond and teaching them some other life skills other than just driving,” she said.
“We have mentors who are from all age groups and put in whatever hours they like.”
All interested applicants can apply through the VicRoads website.
