Driver Reviver

Road Trip!

Heading down Hwy 1 for an Easter Holiday in Yamba. I am so excited, just me and my Aussie man, one on one, in the car, no distractions, just crusin. Destination white sandy beaches, salt water, and sun. Two hours into our 8 hour trip I am confused when my man announces he's gonna stop at the "Driver Reviver" for a cup of tea. I have heard of rest stops, pit stops, even litter barrels on US highways but what is a "Driver Reviver", and is it what I think it is? If so, cool, cause I sure do like the name.

As we pull off the Hwy into the gravel parking lot I notice a fenced in area with picnic tables and tents set up to shade people from the sun. A sturdy yet semi-permanent building made of aluminium takes me back to my high school days under the bleachers where one could buy enough coke and popcorn at the football concession stand to ruin dinner. There is a sign set up with a cute Koala bear on it advertising the Driver Reviver and the Lions Club Logo is proudly displayed on the aluminum where an older gentleman is waiting to serve us. I found myself slightly giddy and excited to be here and to see what this was all about.

It turns out, there are some 220 Driver Revivers located all over Australia manned during peak driving seasons by volunteers from all different types of volunteer organizations. The volunteers are there to give away free coffee, tea, and biscuits to weary travellers and their children to keep drivers safe, alert, and alive. Travellers are free to walk around, use the bathroom, chat with other travellers about road conditions, weather, traffic, and holiday plans.
Driver Reviver began in 1989 and the tradition continues 20 years later through the efforts of volunteers and donations. It proves to be popular and working as an estimated 1 million people take advantage of these spots each year.

I love the Driver Reviver not just because of the great name, the yummy biscuits, and the FREE cup of coffee. I love it because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel like I am part of a community. At the Driver Reviver there are no prerequisites for you to receive your free cup of coffee or tea. You can be anyone, from anywhere, with any beliefs or ideas. You just show up.

In honor of this great Aussie tradition I decided to create a song to be sung to the tune from the ever popular classic Eye of the Tiger

Driver Reviver
Buckled up, back in my seat
Did my time, work is over
Kids are out of school for 2 weeks
Just a man and his will to arrive

Hours in, the drive is so long
kids are starting to annoy me
Roll down the window feel the wind on my face
wishing someone else was here who could drive

Chorus
Its the Driver Reviver its the stop in the night
Risin up to the challenge of arrival
we won't rest till each driver is awake and is safe
and it's there for us all of the time, Driver Reviver

Park the car, stretch your legs
wake it up, slap your face
Coffee, tea ,biscuits, bathroom break
you must fight to keep yourself awake

Chorus
Its the Driver Reviver its the stop in the night
Risin up to the challenge of arrival
we won't rest till each driver is awake and is safe
and it's there for us all of the time, Driver Reviver

Erin