By Tanya Steele
As Motorcyclist Awareness Month continues in Victoria throughout October, a Dandenong Ranges family is asking for more rider awareness and mandatory advanced training for motorcycle riders and motorists alike after the loss of their son, Elias.
“Our lives have changed forever,” said parents Bill and Janine Gerovasilis who want to see motorcycle riders undergo more advanced training, in the hope that no family will have to experience the unthinkable pain they are living in.
“We hope telling our story can at least save one person,” they said.
The Gerovasilis family were shattered by the loss of their 22-year-old son Elias after he suffered a fatal motorcycle crash in Emerald on Tuesday 6 August.
The family is well known to the Hills community and runs a barber shop in Tecoma. Elias was one of three children, the middle child to an older brother and younger sister and was a fresh police graduate with his future ahead of him.
“Our community knows us,” Janine said.
The family have been dealing with immeasurable pain and they said they wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
Elias was travelling in a group of motorcyclists along Beaconsfield-Emerald Road and Cloverleigh Avenue in Emerald at around 9.15pm on 6 August when he came off the road and collided with a tree – losing his life.
“We believe they had a stop in Emerald. They all got on their bikes and Elias was at the front most of the way…at Beaconsfield, they realised he wasn’t there,” his parents said.
His parents said on the evening that Elias had his fatal accident, he wasn’t speeding.
“He knew the road but it’s possible it was inexperience or maybe an animal or just lack of concentration… but he did not take the bend and hit a tree on the other side of the road,” they said.
As of 10 October 2024, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) website stated there were 51 lives lost in Victoria from motorcycle accidents this year, which is up from 36 last year and marks a rise of 42 per cent.
TAC Head of Road Safety Samantha Cockfield said it was devastating to see a significant increase in fatal motorcycle crashes and it was a stark reminder of the consequences when something goes wrong.
“Our thoughts go out to all the families and loved ones of people killed by road trauma; the ripple effects of these deaths are far-reaching, and we can’t become immune to the increase in lives lost on our roads,” she said.
“Motorcyclist Awareness Month is an opportunity for us to engage with the Victorian community and educate road users on how we can all play a role in keeping each other safe; every road user should feel safe, no matter how they get around.”
Elias’ father Bill said there should be more commercials on rider and driver awareness.
“As well as mandatory advanced training for riders and drivers on being aware and courteous of each other on the roads,” he said.
Motorcyclists are some of the most vulnerable road users because they have limited protection, making it crucial for drivers to do their part in ensuring the roads are shared safely.
Elias decided to get his motorcycle learner permit at the beginning of the year.
His parents said previously he had never shown any interest and it was a shock to them as they had never wanted their children to ride motorcycles on the road.
“We really still don’t know why he wanted a bike,” they said.
“He went out and got his motorcycle license, and learner permit and then got his bike, and he was just enjoying riding.”
His parents said he told his friend that when he was riding a bike he felt like the character Toothless from the movie ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ and that he felt free.
For his birthday his parents wanted to get Elias a more advanced training course to hone his skills and gain experience on the road, but he wanted to wait until he got a bigger bike.
“We think if he had done that motorcycle course, it could have saved him,” they said.
Currently, in Victoria, riders do a two-day learner course, a ‘check’ ride and then after three months can go for a licence assessment, but advanced riding courses are available through institutes like Stay Upright and Honda Australia Rider Training (HART).
The South Australian government announced reforms to its Motorbike Graduated Licensing in September this year and the scheme will effectively double the state’s amount of training required for new riders.
Janine Gerovasilis made a social media post on 2 October asking the public to read advice from Victoria Police and Elias’ family wants the message to get through to all drivers and riders to please be aware of each other on the road and take advantage of the advanced riding and driving courses available.
“It could save your life or prevent you from having a serious accident,” she wrote.
“So that other families don’t have to experience the pain we are now experiencing we hope telling our story can at least save one person,” Elias’ family said.
“One woman commented on Janine’s post that she gets her kids to count all the motorcycles when they are driving along, that way when they are old enough to drive they will be more aware.”
Elias graduated from the police academy earlier this year and his parents said it was one of the proudest moments for both Elias and his family.
“The police at Belgrave said he was driven, motivated and eager to learn. Everyone enjoyed working with Elias,” Janine and Bill said.
The police community were deeply affected by the loss of such a bright young officer and Bill and Janine said they have been incredibly supportive.
“They gave him a beautiful send-off at the academy with full police honours,” they said.
A police media representative said that Victoria Police is deeply saddened by the death of Constable Elias Gerovasilis.
“Elias was inducted as a Victoria Police recruit in October 2023 before being sworn in in January 2024,” they said.
“Elias was immensely popular, making a huge impression on both his squad mates and those he worked with at Belgrave Police Station. He was keen, enthusiastic, and couldn’t wait to continue his policing journey.”
“Elias will be greatly missed by all who knew him, and our thoughts are with his loved ones and colleagues.”
Bill and Janine said Elias was always there for his friends and family and willing to help people he didn’t know.
“He was very funny and he had a lot of love to give,” Janine said.
After Elias’ passing, his parents said there was a tribute ride in his honour a few weeks later.
Around 30 riders, with a number Elias had never met, along with family and friends following in their cars, the group travelled the route their son had ridden on the night he had his tragic accident.
“To see that bike family come together – it was powerful but extremely emotional,” they said.
“You don’t have to be speeding or under the influence, you can be doing the right thing and still something like this can happen so tragically.
“It was a really lovely tribute ride. Very emotional. But after talking to bike riders, sadly Elias passed away doing what he enjoyed.
“We are the ones suffering now.
“We just have to take one step at a time and move forward now in this horrible new direction.”
Police continue to prioritise motorcycle safety this month following the worrying rise in rider fatalities in 2024.
They are concerned motorcyclist deaths will continue to climb as the warmer weather approaches – October to December is traditionally considered the highest risk period for motorcycle trauma.
Elias’ family want the message to get through to all drivers and riders to please be aware of each other on the road and take advantage of the advanced riding and driving courses available.
“We are telling Elias’ story so that both drivers and motorcyclists are more aware – if we can save just one motorcyclist.
“Some of these courses could have helped him.’
