Editorial: Sobering message brought home

There are some stories that make me stop and think - and yesterday we carried one such story.

Our lead article on drink driving was one I cannot recall reading before. It was a powerful story, one that will hopefully serve as a sobering reminder of why drink driving is an ever-present threat to us all.

It was a story of death and tragedy. It was a story of how one man's drunken actions wiped out a woman's life and devastated families. But it was also a story of hope.

Widower Bert van Heuckelum and drink driver Roy Nathan united in Tauranga in an effort to convince hundreds of people not to get behind the wheel drunk.

The fact the pair joined forces is what made the story so important and unusual. Mr Nathan had killed Mr van Heuckelum's wife, Jeannetta.

The tragedy happened on September 28, 2008, when Mr Nathan, more than twice the legal limit, crossed the centre line north of Apata coolstores on State Highway 2.

Nearly five years later they were brought together, firstly for a restorative justice conference last week, and then to front the Blue Light Anti Drink Drive Expo this week. They spoke to Katikati College and Aquinas College students, and pupils from Tauranga Youth Academy. They also held a public session at Classic Flyers last night.

They pleaded with people not to make the same mistake Mr Nathan did.

This expo is an excellent way to spread the message, and police and Te Aranui Youth Trust deserve huge credit for organising it.

I think it is a presentation all Western Bay secondary school students should see because it is critical the community keeps the pressure on this problem.

A total of 383 people have been caught drink driving in the Western Bay between January 1 and June 3 this year. Each one of those thoughtless drivers represents a potential catastrophe like Mr van Heuckelum and Mr Nathan and their families have had to endure.

These two men deserve respect and credit. The fact they united and shared their grief with strangers in the hope it saves lives is incredibly brave and commendable.