It's another part of Springwood road safety campaigner, Peter Frazer's, "bizarre ... strange life".
On Tuesday, October 30, he was announced as a nominee for NSW Local Hero, as part of the 2020 Australian of the Year awards.
"It is just another part of my strange life ...bizarre really, it's good, it's a lovely acknowledgement - the nomination," he told the Gazette.
Mr Frazer is the father of 23-year-old truck crash victim Sarah Frazer. Sarah broke down on the Hume Highway in 2012 and pulled into an emergency lane that her father described as a death trap - at only 1.5 metres wide the safety lane was too narrow. Sarah, and the tow truck driver who came to her aid, were killed when a passing truck hit them.
Her death hit the close-knit family hard and they, with Peter at the helm, have campaigned on safety ever since. Mr Frazer is president of Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group and campaigns to stop other avoidable car crashes and protect all those vulnerable on our roads.
Mr Frazer, 61, created Australias National Road Safety Week which is now in its seventh year and has support at every level of government. He has promoted the yellow ribbon as the nation's symbol for road safety.
The nomination follows many other honours. He was recently bestowed the Third Sector volunteer of the year award. In 2013, he was named Blue Mountains Citizen of the Year and in 2014 he received the University of Western Sydney's Award for Community Service and Leadership. He speaks all over the world on road safety and was Chair of the inaugural International Road Victims Conference in 2018. Mr Frazer is also a volunteer firefighter.
Mr Frazer will know next week whether he has been chosen to represent the state in the local hero category with the official ceremony on Monday November 4 in Sydney.
Last year, 1226 people were killed in road crashes in Australia and 36,000 people are injured every year.
Recently the SARAH group's advocacy has ensured laws have changed to make passing motorists slow down for emergency vehicles and those who have broken down.
Three other candidates are up for the honour including Coogee lifesaver Doug Hawkins, kindness advocate Kath Koschel and Backtracks youth works founder Bernie Shakeshaft.
