Pulling up for night of cruising

AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING community cruise night is set to help the mentally ill along the road to recovery.
A meeting between car enthusiasts and Knox councillors has led to a regular event raising funds for a youth program at Ferntree Gully support organisation Halcyon.
Friberg Ward councillor and petrol head Debbie Field, a previous member of staff at Halcyon, met Greg Contrabona at a ward reception held by Taylor Ward councillor Tony Kamitsis.
Mr Contrabona, a member of Oakleigh-based modified vehicle club Southern Street Machiners, told Cr Field his not-for-profit club wanted to hold a regular cruise night and was looking for a site and a beneficiary of money raised.
The upshot is a fortnightly cruise night held in the car park behind the Civic Centre in Wantirna South.
The inaugural event is set for Tuesday, 14 November at 6pm and everyone is invited. Entry price is a gold coin.
“Anyone can join in a cruise night,” said Mr Contrabona.
“It doesn’t matter what kind of car you’ve got and you often get people who come along for the stroll.”
Mr Contrabona sees the nights as an opportunity for car lovers to indulge their passion and see what other people have done to their machines. In addition, it is an opportunity for young people to learn how to look after cars and drive responsibly. “Knox police will be there on the night to talk to younger people and teach them about the hoon laws,” Mr Contrabona said.
The cruise night idea has been supported by Knox City Council and Knox City Shopping Centre and staff at Halcyon are also pleased to be hitching a ride.
Peter Massler of Halcyon said opportunities to get out and mix could be rare for people on a disability pension and who suffered the stigma of mental illness.
“This is a really exciting thing,” he said of the cruise night. The kids have a chance to meet with the drivers and owners of exotic machines.”
Halcyon occupational therapist Sarah Gardner runs the social and recreational youth group for people aged between 17 and 25.
She said the partnership had come about in a unique way and promised to provide some great opportunities as well as providing useful funds for the program.
For Mr Contrabona, who has been with the Machiners for about seven years, the appeal of putting a good car on display and looking at other people’s speaks for itself.
“It’s great to see how the different machines turn out, especially when they’ve been modified,” he said.