A community cycling initiative in Gnowangerup has been boosted by a $25,300 grant for road safety workshops and will be topped up to pay for 200 helmets — one for every child in the shire.

The success of the Shire of Gnowangerup’s Wild Gravel event last year has filtered down to local children who have taken up cycling in droves.

In conjunction with local police, the shire is running a Ride Wild, Ride Safe initiative in the lead-up to this year’s event in October and will use the grant to pay for workshops on safety and bike maintenance.

Deputy shire president Rebecca O’Meehan said the money was vital to help with road safety education.

“The success of Wild Gravel has had a knock-on effect as the uptake of cycling has been huge,” she said.

“There is a need to couple this with appropriate safety gear and the message to ride safe has come from the community and the local police officer in charge.

“The project will engage children, families and the broader community in practical cycling education, including safe riding skills, bike maintenance and the awareness of road rules, with a focus on shared road environments and e-rideables.

“To support this program with other funding, the shire will purchase a new helmet for every child in the shire.”

The workshops will take place in Borden, Ongerup and Gnowangerup and children will be shown how to decorate their new safety helmets.

The Shire of Gnowangerup’s share of a $172,000 pot was announced on July 2.

The handout was the final round of the Road Safety Commission’s community initiatives grants for 2025-26 and saw 18 projects awarded more than $172,000.

The grants are paid from the Road Trauma Trust Account — the fund which sees all safety camera fines spent on projects to save lives on WA roads.

Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said the government was investing in grassroots projects as part of a new approach.

“When we invest in grassroots road safety projects, we empower communities to drive positive changes in local behaviour,” he said.

“The Road Safety commission’s community-based program strikes at the heart of a local issue with a targeted response that can save lives.”

The 2026 Wild Gravel event will take place on October 24.