Memorial honours Eric Montgomery, whose legacy lives on through DECA

By Taylah Baker

Apr 24, 2024

**Trailblazer:** Two years after his passing, DECA founder Eric Montgomery was celebrated for his ground-breaking initiative. Photo by Holly Daniel

He was a family man, a pioneer for road safety, and a formidable presence in the Goulburn Valley.

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Two years after his passing, the void Eric Montgomery left is still strongly felt by the community.

On Monday, April 22, a memorial service to celebrate Mr Montgomery’s remarkable accomplishments and historical significance took place at DECA Shepparton.

In the 1970s, Mr Montgomery established the Goulburn Valley Driver Training Complex, now known as the Driver Education Centre of Australia or DECA.

About 100 people whose lives had been impacted by both the man and the organisation he founded attended the memorial — generations of driving instructors, Wodonga TAFE employees, emergency service groups and his family and friends.

**Be my guest:** Wodonga TAFE executive director of education and training Graham Hart extends a warm welcome to all. Photo by Megan Fisher

During the event, Wodonga TAFE executive director of education and training Graham Hart called DECA “a brand that’s synonymous with not only the region, but across the world”.

But beyond spearheading the complex, Mr Montgomery left a legacy best summed up by those who worked alongside him.

Former DECA driving instructor Noel Wood recounted when he first saw Mr Montgomery give a road safety presentation.

“From then on, I knew his passion was stopping the carnage on our roads,” he said.

**Yarn spinner:** Noel Wood had anecdotes to spare as a former driving instructor at DECA. Photo by Megan Fisher

According to the Transport Accident Commission, the number of fatalities on Victoria’s roads was a bleak 1061 in 1970.

It was Victoria’s highest-ever road toll.

“Eric wanted to do something about it,” Mr Wood said.

“I joined him in his efforts along with a lot of other people ... no-one knew how many doors Eric had to open to get support for this complex.”

The sentimental part of the celebration came from Mr Montgomery’s children, Camille and Simon Montgomery.

The pair did the honours of unveiling a plaque, cementing Mr Montgomery’s legacy on the facade of the building.

**Proud:** Camille and Simon Montgomery unveil the plaque that commemorates their father. Photo by Megan Fisher

**Memorial:** During the service, a plaque was unveiled at DECA Shepparton in honour of founder Eric Montgomery. Photo by Megan Fisher

Regrettably, the need for his road safety crusade remains as critical today as when DECA was founded.

Last year saw 295 lives lost on Victorian roads, the highest toll in 15 years.

“Crisis,” Mr Wood said.

“I look at what’s happened to the Careful Cobber program, which should be funded because children out there are still killing themselves, and it starts down there (at DECA).

“That program was about helping our young people get the right education before they got out on the roads, before they’re getting picked up off the road in an ambulance … Monty could see that.

“We should be out there telling the government to get back to training our young people.

“Unless we do that, we’re never going to get rid of the road toll.”

Following the service, guests snaked through the building’s hallway and, on the left, were greeted by a collage chronicling DECA’s past.