The Moree business generously donated a 2011 Toyota Corolla to Moree Clontarf Academy, to be used to help Clontarf boys work towards gaining their 120 required hours of driving experience on their learner licence.

“I just think it’s a great cause,” Tait Auto Group general manager Kendall Tait said.

“Everyone needs to learn to drive.

“It’s really nice to support the community and we understand how important it is to have a licence in today’s society.”

The Clontarf learner driver initiative began in June this year, and aims to help boys aged 16 and up within the Clontarf program complete their learner driving hours and gain their provisional licence, eventually leading to post-school employment.

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With many of the Clontarf boys’ families not owning a car, or parents still on their provisional licence themselves, Clontarf director Eric Faulkner identified the difficulties many of the boys faced in obtaining a driver’s licence, which was preventing them from gaining employment once they finished school.

“This donation means a lot,” Mr Faulkner said.

“By having another car to encourage the boys to get behind the wheel and get their hours up, we’re able to make them more employable when they finish school which is a huge thing.”

“It stops boys driving without a licence and this hopefully gets them their licence before they leave school,” Clontarf operations officer Cliff ‘Poss’ Sampson added.

Clontarf, which has partnered with Moree Salvation Army, Moree PCYC, and now, Tait Auto Group to run the learner driver program, already had a manual car which was donated to the Salvation Army.

This new car is an automatic, which Mr Faulkner hopes will encourage more boys to get behind the wheel.

“A few of the boys were hesitant to get in the manual,” he said.

The Salvation Army car will still be utilised, but Mr Faulkner said the new car, which will be housed at Moree Secondary College’s Albert Street campus, will make it even easier for the boys to undertake driving lessons with Clontarf staff during their free periods at school and as an after-school activity.

It will also mean two boys can be getting up their hours at once, rather than just one at a time.

“The boys are so excited,” Mr Sampson said.

“This is just another way to keep them at school. It gives the younger boys something to aspire to as well, seeing the older boys cruising around.”

Clontarf now has 11 boys on their learner licence, including Malu French and Steven Le Milliere who got their Ls last week.

Steven lives at Yarraman, and has already completed 30 hours of driving since obtaining his Ls.

He is looking at getting a trade in welding and recognises the importance of having a driver’s licence, not just for future employment, but for everyday convenience.

“My nan can’t drive anymore, so if she wants to go grocery shopping I can take her in,” he said.

Meanwhile, Malu wants to eventually get a “hands-on” job and said having a licence and a car is the key to your own freedom.

“If a job comes up, it’s better if you have a licence,” he said.

“You need a car to go places. It’s good to get your own car in the future so you don’t depend on your parents.”

Steven was the first to test out the new car after receiving the keys from Tait Auto Group on Thursday.