Hastings SES Community Driver Reviver Centre fare-welled on final day

The Centre has been a haven of coffee, tea and biscuits for travellers and volunteer staff alike for the past 30 years off the Pacific Highway near Port Macquarie.

Five hundred and thirty-three people were served over the Easter holiday period, beating the previous years record by 28.

Before it was closed for the last time on Sunday, April 28.

"A sad day for the dedicated volunteers who have closed the doors of the Driver Reviver Hastings SES Community for the last time on Sunday," said Port Macquarie SES member service officer Elaine Mason on social media.

"The Centre has been operating for 30 years but due to declining numbers for various reasons this facility has sadly closed.

"Thank you to the countless volunteers who gave their time over 24 hour shifts in order to help save lives on our roads."

Volunteers Judy Allan, Jill Adams, Robert Toms, Alex Allan and Gary Garlinge covered the last shift for the weekend.

The site was originally opened by Hastings SES in 1989 at the Billabong Nature Park and once catered for 45,000 drivers a year but fell to only a few thousand in recent years.

Hastings Driver Reviver coordinator Robert Toms, who volunteered his time for the last day said a morning tea for volunteers was being held at the Centre to mark 30 years of dedicated service.

"There will be a morning tea held for volunteers at the centre on May 18 from 10am," he said.

"We are still tracking down all the volunteers, and if the weather is unfavourable we'll be moving it to the SES base on Central Road."

The Centre is due to be removed from the Fernbank Depot during a redevelopment by Roads and Maritime Services, as RMS office staff are relocated from Central Road to join field staff at the site.

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