The Little Blue Dinosaur foundation was established after the tragic loss of Thomas McLaughlin in a pedestrian road accident on the Central Coast in 2014. The foundation has been designed to promote child road safety and education.

“It’s a pedestrian program that started after a little boy was killed at Macmasters Beach when he was away on holiday,” Shoalhaven City Council roads education officer Kathy Wiseham said. 

“It was an unfamiliar area, he was unaware of the road rules and that the traffic there was different from at home.”

The campaign has seen more than 70 new signs emblazoned with the words ‘Hold my Hand’ installed at seven peak tourist locations across the Shoalhaven. 

The areas were selected after consultation with the Council’s Community Consultative Bodies (CCBs) to identify high traffic pedestrian locations.

“We have signs at all these little coastal villages and we have said (to the CCBs) to put them up at the long weekend in October and take them down after Easter,” Kathy said. 

“Signs have been installed at Bendalong, Wandandian, Lake Tabourie, Hyams Beach, Basin Villages, Sussex Inlet and Cambewarra; and we have interest from Bawley Point and Kioloa in putting them up too. 

“The Shoalhaven goes from 98,000 people to over 300,000 in holiday time. We have all these people coming down here who might be unfamiliar with the roads and road rules. It’s about keeping safe during the holiday season, reminding pedestrians and drivers alike.”

Shoalhaven City Council is one of 10 council bodies across New South Wales to part in the scheme.