Tamworth's Driver Reviver is back from the brink, with the city's churches combining to staff the voluntary kiosk on the side of the New England Highway.
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The service looked certain to lapse in January, with Peel Valley Lion's Club looking to retire from the job, after a 25-year stretch manning the site.
It would have left the popular free rest spot for travelling motorists on the side of the Armidale road, abandoned.
Tamworth's Driver Reviver closed during the COVID-19 crisis, but after the end of lockdowns was on the verge of lapsing.
But soon the driver reviver will be taken over by the Tamworth Scripture Union, an alliance of most local churches.
Driver Reviver director Frank Colemane said Catholics and Protestants will stand side by side in the name of improving road safety.
"The church is not just in the building, we take church out to the people," he said.
"Across the churches we go out into the community. That's what we're about. Each individual church is not a little church tucked away with an us four and no-more-type attitude. It's how can we serve our community."
In his working life as an insulation representative, Mr Colemane did his fair share of late night and long-distance driving.
He said the charitable service could be a life-saver.
"It gives you a break. People don't realise just getting out of the car, stopping for a few minutes, having a conversation, having a cup of tea or coffee, particularly if you're travelling alone, certainly fires you up and keeps you alert," he said.
They will first operate the Tamworth Driver Reviver on Easter weekend.
Some 16 volunteers will staff the service in shifts from 10 to 3.
The Scripture Union will also likely open on school holidays and public holidays, during the Country Music Festival and at other times of high traffic, this year. If they find additional volunteers, they may extend opening hours in 2022.
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