Community volunteers and members of the Wattle Range Road Safety Committee will again not be manning a refreshment stop near Millicent this Easter holiday long weekend in April.

It is usually staged alongside the Argyle CFS Shed and opposite the Sebastopol service station, 5km north of Millicent.

The ‘driver reviver’ on the Princes Highway was not held in 2021 on account of COVID protocols but other factors have prompted this year’s cancellation.

An explanation has been provided by committee member and long-time coordinator Sue Vanderheul who has been involved in every ‘driver reviver’ since the first in 1994.

She said the committee was currently in recess while it was getting difficult to secure other volunteers from the community.

Ms Vanderheul said falling patronage by travellers was another reason which prompted the cancellation.

“When we started, there were no refreshment stops for motorists between Salt Creek and Mount Gambier,” Ms Vanderheul said.

“There are now 24/7 service stations at Kingston and Millicent while the emergency services run a ‘driver reviver’ each Easter at a parking bay on the Princes Highway a few kilometres out of Kingston.”

The Millicent ‘driver reviver’ had provided an open fire and toilets as well as free tea, coffee and biscuits supplied by sponsors and some home-baked goods.

Government agencies like Wattle Range Council in each state and territory support the volunteers.