Rail Safety Week:

This is a very important week for our school whānau and for our beautiful Matthes family in particular.

Keenan Matthes, aged 16 at the time, was struck by a train at a level crossing near his west Auckland home on April 20 2017.

Keenan was an outstanding young rugby player with opportunities in rugby and league opening up for him. He was very focused on his goals and put in a lot of 'hard yards'. Keenan was on his morning run with music playing in both ears from his earphones – and failed to stop because he didn’t hear a train coming at the Ranui crossing.

Two days before what would have been Keenan's 17th birthday, the first set of automatic safety swing gates were put in at the crossing where he died.

Since then, Auckland Transport and KiwiRail have installed automatic gates at other crossings, including at Baldwin Ave Station, Fruitvale Rd Station, and Mt Albert Station.

Karamea and her husband, Presley Matthes, have become advocates for rail safety and the One Ear Out campaign since their son's death.

Karamea is now famous all over New Zealand for her work in raising awareness about one ear out.

She has been to Parliament to talk to influential politicians and was nominated for New Zealander of the Year for her work.

Her message is so important: One Ear Out means that when you are out and about, you should have one headphone in and one out so you are aware of all that is happening around you.

We will be sharing this message at our Whānau Time on Friday.

Please take the opportunity during Rail Safety Week to remind your children to look twice for trains and to be very, very careful anywhere near train tracks and railway lines.

On Karamea's behalf, thank you.

Rail Safety Week 2024

This year we see the return of the legend Steely Stan. And his horse.

Some say Steely Stan resides deep in the Remutaka Ranges. Others swear he’s a Mt

Eden local. The man's a mystery. But know this. Wherever rail crossing advice is needed,

Steely Stan will be there to share the secrets of his 'Steely Stare’™

We know from behavioural science that people are more likely to do the right thing when

they are being watched. This is why we have introduced a role model to demonstrate the

correct behaviour when crossing railway tracks.

This year Steely Stan will be joined by his city slicker mate, Steely Stu, who he watches

over as he navigates a busy city level crossing.

We are urging people to be like Steely Stan (and Steely Stu) – and take a good hard look

for trains when approaching any level crossing.

The two Steelys’ advice -

‘Steely Stare. Steely Stare. All clear!’

While there is a light-hearted aspect to the Rail Safety Week campaign, the subject matter

is very serious.

Sadly, 10 people lost their lives in collisions with trains last year, and three people have

also died this year. More than 170 people have lost their lives on the rail network in the past ten years.

This campaign aims to positively impact the behaviour of motorists, cyclists and

pedestrians in metro and regional/rural areas by increasing awareness of safe

behaviours on and around rail.