Mum shares her inspiring message

Two years since she lost her baby to a drunk driver, Perth mother Stacy Dunbar is relentless in her mission to promote road safety.

This week she has taken her message to Karratha and shared her heartbreaking story in the hope of preventing others from getting behind the wheel while under the influence.

Eight-month-old Nate was killed when a drunk-driver ploughed into his bedroom in January 2013.

In the aftermath, Mrs Dunbar launched a major campaign in conjunction with the Pilbara News, The West Australian and Channel Seven, calling on people to take the Pledge for Nate to not drink and drive.

The initiative garnered considerable support, with more than 8000 people making the pledge not to drink and drive over the 2013 Christmas period, contributing to the State recording its lowest rate of drink-driving offences in more than 60 years.

Mrs Dunbar's efforts were recognised when she was crowned Australia's Local Hero in the 2015 WA Australian of the Year awards.

Earlier this week, Mrs Dunbar joined three other WA Australian of the Year recipients, Professor Lyn Beazley, Graham Mabury and Drisana Levitzke-Gray, who also shared their inspirational stories with the Karratha community.

Speaking to the Pilbara News last week, Mrs Dunbar said the past two years had been an "emotional roller coaster".

"We've had some incredible things happen in that time with the Pledge for Nate and Australian of the Year awards," she said.

"It's so refreshing to have something to look forward to but of course in that time you've still got to be able to find time to do everyday life and fit grieving in there as well."

Mrs Dunbar said learning to live without her son was still a challenge.

"Time doesn't really make it easier, but you just learn to cope better," she said.

"We are still very much learning how to move forward in our lives without him being there, but also to be able to try and keep his memory alive as well."

A major contributor in helping the family heal has been Mrs Dunbar's children - nine-year-old Kai, who survived the crash that killed Nate, and the newest arrival, 13-month-old Eve.

Mrs Dunbar said she is proud of what the campaign achieved.

"It ended up being such an overwhelming success," she said.

"We never thought it would get as big as it did. To think that there are so many lives out there that have been saved because of the pledge really warms my heart."

Being crowned Australia's Local Hero was a "surreal" experience, Mrs Dunbar said.

But it is an honour she is embracing to further her cause and keep the memory of Nate alive.

"I'm extremely grateful to have that award and to be able to try to use it to my best advantage for road safety awareness."