Is Vincent Demirdjian Australia’s oldest L-plater?

Could this man be Australia’s oldest L-plater?

Vincent Demirdjian leaves Gosford Local Court where his application to have his licence renewed was rejected. Picture: Richard Noone

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Meet 95-year-old Vincent Demirdjian who was given a Learners licence for six months so he could sit a medical and driving assessment after his unrestricted license was cancelled because of his age.

The Palestine-born Armenian, who immigrated to Australia in 1970, appealed for the return of his licence in Gosford Local Court today.

The court heard Mr Demirdjian had failed to sit a mandatory annual medical exam and his license was automatically cancelled by the Roads and Maritime Service.

The 95-year-old will be back on his L’s until he can do fitness to drive assessments.

Through an Arabic translator Mr Demirdjian told the court he was fit to drive, he had driven overseas and that he was being “discriminated” against.

The RMS solicitor told the court Mr Demirdjian had been sent a letter telling him he had been granted a six-month Learners licence so he could undergo the mandatory medical and practical fitness to drive assessments.

Magistrate Peter Barnett told Mr Demirdjian the RMS’s initial cancellation of his license was “not a decision he could appeal”.

“I have no power or jurisdiction to hear his application,” Mr Barnett said.

“I can do no more to help him.”

Mr Demirdjian pleaded in Gosford Local Course with no avail.

Through broken English, Mr Demirdjian pleaded with the magistrate.

“I have the right live,” Mr Demirdjian protested.

“I have to go to the shops, how do I go? There will be God to help me?”

Outside court Mr Demirdjian said he had an earlier letter from a GP stating he was fit to drive on a modified licence, which restricted him to a 10km radius.

He said he intended to sit another medical to get his unrestricted licence back.

“I’m okay, no problem (to drive),” he said.

“They should be proud of that.”

Under NSW older drivers legislation, anyone over 85 who wants to retain their unrestricted licence has to undergo a medical assessment every year and a practical driving assessment every two years.

Demirdjian is back on his L’s.

Picture: iStock