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CPK McLAREN MOTOR BODY – Leongatha’s Motor Body & Vehicle Repairer

from 51 Gippsland Lifestyle Winter

by gippsland life

from 51 Gippsland Lifestyle Winter, page 124

Article from: 51 Gippsland Lifestyle Winter

Millie’s Adventures – Millie, ...

WE NEVER COMPROMISE PREMIUM QUALITY & SAFETY STANDARDS

CPK McLaren MotorBody is recognised as one of the State’s leading Automotive Repair Facilities, one of only 5 Regional Finalists over 3 years in the VACC Industry Awards Best Body Repairer, Passenger Vehicle Category.

UTILISING THE LATEST

Environmentally friendly automotive refinishing technologies. Diagnostic, Fault discovery & Safety Restraint System equipment.

 ALL VEHICLES INCLUDING PRESTIGE  CLAIMS ASSISTANCE  GENUINE VEHICLE PARTS ONLY  GENUINE CAR GLASS & WINDSCREEN REPLACEMENT ONLY  24 HOUR TOWING  COMPANY FLEET VEHICLES

insurance claims assistance

Phillip Island Index

131 ALEX SCOTT AND STAFF - Real Estate from the mountains to the sea 28 BLUE GUM GARDEN CENTRE - Gardening, Landscaping and Heating 20 BOWENS PHILLIP ISLAND - Tradeperks when you shop with Bowens 21 - 23 DESTINATION PHILLIP ISLAND - Whale Trail Discovery 26 - 27 DESTINATION PHILLIP ISLAND - Phillip Island 101 - One Amazing Place 36 FINDING THE GRAIN -Handcrafted, reclaimed timber furniture 20 FLOWERS OF PHILLIP ISLAND - Creating Wedding Flowers and more 30 – 33 FREE 3D HANDS: Manufacturing Joy 25 ISLAND SHOES - Cabello comfort 25 NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERANS MUSEUM - Learn about our history 35 NEWHAVEN COLLEGE - Discover our college 29 OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA - Shining inside and out 24 PHILLIP ISLAND RSL - A family friendly modern venue with great food 34 THE WOOLI TAVERN - Family friendly restaurant & Live music

all your floral needs we can help with venue set up & styling, priding ourselves on our local venue knowledge.

Flowers of Phillip Island has a history of creating wedding flowers for the most discerning couples for over 30 years.

We can guide you from button hole to bouquets, Venue set ups and styling, creating lasting memories.

Servicing Phillip Island, San Remo, Bass Coast and welcome Gippsland enquiries

Shop 1/96 Thompson Avenue Cowes Vic 3922 Phone: 5952 2235 | Email: info@flowersofphillipisland.com.au www.flowersofphillipisland.com.au flowersofphillipisland flowersofphillipisland

Photos supplied by: Claire Davie

WHALE HELLO THERE WINTER ON PHILLIP ISLAND

WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT BEING ON PHILLIP ISLAND DURING WINTER? WITNESSING THE ARRIVAL OF HUMPBACK AND SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES INTO OUR COASTAL WATERS. THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT RUGGING UP AND SEEING THESE MAJESTIC CREATURES.

WANDER THIS WINTER ON PHILLIP ISLAND

The whale season occurs from late May until mid-August and excites visitors and locals alike. If you are eager to go in search of whales, book onto the highly popular Wildlife Coast Cruises Winter Whale or Whale and Dolphin Cruise - an experience not to be missed!

If you prefer to stay on land, explore the Phillip Island and Bass Coast Whale Discovery Trail, featuring some of the finest whale lookouts in the region, from Phillip Island to Inverloch. Grab some warm clothing and a pair of binoculars and head out to one of the trails' fantastic vantage points. Popular locations for sightings include Cowes, Summerlands, Cape Woolamai, George Bass Coastal Walk and Kilcunda. For up-to-date whale sightings in the area, don't forget to download the Wildlife Whales App.

This year, the Island Whale Festival weekend takes place from 1 – 3 July at various venues across Phillip Island. Local community and visitors alike have the opportunity to engage with a range of activities that will not only entertain but also allow you to appreciate the wildlife and natural habitats of Phillip Island and the Bass Coast region.

The weekend is set to feature various activities and events, including talks, workshops, whale spotting, whale cruises, craft activities and more! Stay up to date with the latest announcements, including the program at islandwhales.com.au or follow us on social media at @islandwhales.

For inspiration on cosy winter stays, dining and things to do and see – visit visitphillipisland.com.au

PHILLIP ISLAND RSL A VENUE FOR ALL OF LIFE’S OCCASIONS

BIRTHDAYS | CHRISTENINGS | ANNIVERSARIES | WEDDINGS | CONFERENCES | MEETINGS | WAKES

FAMILY FRIENDLY AND FULLY ACCESSIBLE | KIDS PLAY AREA OPEN DAILY MENU FEATURES HEALTHY CHOICE OPTIONS CATERS FOR VEGETARIANS, VEGANS, GLUTEN FREE | SENIORS AND KIDS MENUS AVAILABLE

OPENING HOURS PHILLIP ISLAND RSL VENUE: OPEN 7 DAYS 11.00AM TO LATE BISTRO: LUNCH AND DINNER BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL LUNCH: FROM 12.00PM DINNER – SEATING TIMES: FROM 5.30PM

Welcome to Phillip Island, Welcome to Phillip Island, 101km2 of amazing experiences distilled into one easygoing island sanctuary.

Near enough to reach on a short drive from Melbourne but far enough to feel like you’ve had a real escape, Phillip Island is Victoria’s holiday sweet spot.

No matter what time of the year you visit, there’s 101km2 of island magic to be discovered. From watching fur seals sun themselves on Seal Rocks, to enjoying a smooth red at a cosy wine bar and taking to the skies on an exhilarating scenic helicopter ride, whichever direction you head there’s fun to be found.

Whilst cooler, the Winter months bring a sense of rejuvenation and invigoration. Rug up and explore the Phillip Island and Bass Coast Whale Discovery Trail, offering spectacular vantage points to spot Humpback whales migrating by and Southern Right whales visiting the coastal waters. If you are looking for a special winter adventure, book onto a Wildlife Coast Cruises - Winter Whale Cruise, and go in search of these majestic creatures.

To keep the big and small kids entertained, warm up testing your indoor climbing ability at Clip N Climb Phillip Island. Enjoy a speciality homemade hot chocolate or chocolate fondu at the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory and discover the magic and fun at A Maze’N Things. Learn stories of conservation, climate resilience and what lives in the deep, with the interactive and immersive experiences at the Antarctic Journey. And of course, no visit to Phillip Island is complete without watching the Little Penguins waddle on home at sunset – but don’t forget your jacket!

For a culinary experience on Phillip Island, enjoy quality food as you soak up the views of Westernport Bay at Hotel Phillip Island, Isola di Capri or North Pier Hotel. Find a cosy spot next to the fire and a glass of wine at the Phillip Island Winery or taste exciting seasonal craft beer releases at Ocean Reach Taphouse. Grab your morning brew and a bite to eat at G’day Tiger, The Store or The Waterboy Café.

Whether you glamp under the stars, stay in a luxury cabin or book a caravan park with a view, we invite you to stay and create your own Island adventure.

101 square kilometres of amazing is waiting. Phillip Island 101. One amazing place.

OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA

CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

SHINING INSIDE AND OUT

Stage Two of our original masterplan is now complete with our spectacular outdoor kitchen, the sensory gardens, our discovery centre (library) with its own amphitheatre and new playgrounds.

We have such a wonderful space to work with and the final product is certainly a winner with eight classrooms, new inside and outside kitchens, an extended staff room, four playgrounds, a synthetic oval with three running tracks, the flexible library/discovery centre, entrance façade and natural gardens and grounds.

Our students have been involved with the planting of the new vegetation and are very proud of their efforts as they have worked with the landscape gardener and our science teacher to learn about the importance of being environmentally aware and their role in looking after our world. As sustainability is part of our philosophy, we have solar panels, water tanks and biodiversity areas including a bird hide, orchard and sensory gardens.

The size of our school lends itself to a close knit and inclusive family style atmosphere. Our learning spaces are designed to allow the students to learn both inside and outside and always have bright stimulating outlooks.

We welcome enquiries and tours as “Open Day” is every day for our school community. All denominations are welcome.

FREE 3D HANDS: MANUFACTURING JOY

A PHILLIP ISLAND-BASED CHARITY IS CHANGING LIVES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WORDS: CHRIS WEST

Albert Einstein is famously quoted as having said that in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity. Free 3D Hands founder Mat Bowtell is living proof of the truth in that statement.

In 2014 Mat was working as an engineer at the Toyota car manufacturing plant in Altona in Melbourne when staff were given notice that the factory would be closing down in three years.

“I knew I needed to find something to keep myself in a positive mindset during that time,” he reflects.

“Around that time, I saw a 3D printer for the first time at the Avalon Air Show. It took my mind way back to 2003 when I was studying mechatronics at Chiba University in Japan on a scholarship through Monash and was a testing a bionic arm. That arm I tested back then cost a million dollars and I was amazed by the technology, but I couldn’t see the point of it if people weren’t going to be able to afford it.

“I then gave it no further thought at the time and went into career in automotive industry. Having seen the 3D printer at the Air Show, I thought it could make something similar to the bionic arm I tested in Japan at a fraction of the cost. Being made redundant gave me the opportunity to explore that interest further.”

Mat used his payout from Toyota to help kickstart his dream, working full-time on a voluntary basis for next two to three years. More and more people started lending their support to his endeavour. Amongst the many who provided assistance, Adelaide law firm Norman Waterhouse Lawyers worked pro bono to set up Free 3D Hands as a charity.

Shortly after his redundancy from Toyota, Mat and his wife Yuka and young children Mia and Sam, moved from Melbourne to Phillip Island. “I had grown up on Phillip Island and could think of no better place to start a charity. It’s such a supportive community here,” he says.

Mat initially worked out of a single car garage before finding at factory at The Concourse in Cowes. In January this year, Free 3D Hands relocated to a new premises at 3/32 Boys Home Road in Newhaven. An anonymous local benefactor bought the factory and is leasing it to the charity for $1 per year.

“It’s just incredible. That’s true altruism,” Mat remarks

“Our new premises are more efficient and provide a place where we’ll continue to grow. We’ve got everything we need here,” he adds.

The work taking place at Free 3D Hands is nothing short of remarkable. Mat and his team design, manufacture and provide assistive devices to anyone with upper limb differences – for free. Many of the recipients are young children with congenital hand differences and Free 3D Hands will keep providing updated devices as they grow at no cost. The charity does not even ask for a delivery fee, regardless of wherever in the world the recipient is based.

“It’s a commitment for life. We’ll provide anything they need, whenever they need it,” Mat promises.

“By providing the devices completely free of charge with no expectation of reward, then it becomes truly priceless. It’s an incredible feeling and is what drives us every day. We feel like we’re part of a global family.”

Mat Bowtell and Lachie Thomas

Bionic arm prototype in testing

A crucial part of the charity’s operation is sharing all its intellectual property with the world.

“We release all our all the knowledge we gain from everything we do as open source, so that others can replicate it,” Mat says.

Inside the Newhaven premises, Mat and his team utilise a production line of approximately forty 3D printers to manufacture the assistive devices. Different printers are responsible for making different parts of the hands such as the fingers, joints and palm, before assembly takes place.

“It usually takes about ten to fifteen hours to make one hand, depending on the size,” Mat reveals.

“3D printing really reduces the design lead time down to allow very quick continuous incremental improvement.”

The assistive devices manufactured by Free 3D Hands are more of a functional tool and differ from prosthetic limbs which are designed to be worn all day long.

As Mat explains, assistive devices are typically worn for any number of specific tasks such as helping to ride a bicycle, play the piano, serve a tennis ball, hold a skipping rope, or open a bottle of water.

“We’re just helping people achieve something that they haven’t been able to achieve before and put a smile on their faces,” he says.

“Our slogan is that we’re manufacturing joy.”

The material Free 3D Hands uses for its devices is called PLA (Poly Lactic Acid), which is an environmentally friendly biodegradable plastic derived from corn starch. In its relatively short history, the charity has already helped change many people’s lives.

“The number of people we have directly assisted would be in the high hundreds, but we have no idea how many we’ve helped indirectly,” Mat says.

“We’ve had about five thousand other people download our design and try to replicate what we do around the world. That’s the whole point of what we do.”

The first person referred to Free 3D Hands for assistance was a four-yearold boy from Newcastle in New South Wales named Eli, who wanted an Iron Man hand.

“We downloaded an open source design that was being developed in America and set about making Eli’s hand,” Mat recalls.

Potential recipients anywhere in the world can make application to Free 3D Hands for an assistive device via the charity’s website.

“All applications are initially assessed internally and then it is generally best if we can get to meet them in person,” Mat says.

“If that’s not possible we can rely on photographs to confirm measurements or use video conferencing like Zoom to connect.”

Naturally, the life-changing work undertaken by Free 3D Hands would not be possible without ongoing funding.

The charity is fully dependent upon donations to sustain its operation and receives wonderful support from a widespread network of individuals, businesses and the local Phillip Island community in general.

“Anyone who makes an individual donation or those who collaborate with us through sponsorship find a greater sense of purpose in aligning themselves or their organisation with something that makes such a difference to others,” Mat suggests.

“All forms of support are always welcomed and greatly appreciated. We are particularly on the lookout for annual corporate sponsorships and believe Free 3D Hands provides a very worthy initiative for any company to put their name to.”

Working alongside Mat at the charity’s Newhaven premises is a passionate and dedicated team comprising Operations Manager, Peta Strachan, who is kept busy handling emails, website administration and numerous other responsibilities, Assembly Technician, Rebecca Nerosa, and a small band of university interns.

Mat’s wife Yuka is also a Director of Free 3D Hands and plays a hands-on role predominantly looking after data entry tasks. At the time of writing, Yuka was preparing for the birth of their third child – a baby daughter – expected to be welcomed into the world in June. But from a development perspective, the most critical contributor to the operation is Lachie Thomas, a young software engineer aged in his midtwenties who, with the support of his employer in the private hospital sector, spends one day a fortnight at Free 3D Hands lending his expert input.

“I was studying robotics in 2018 when a friend of mine showed me a picture of a child in Sri Lanka with and arm difference and asked if I could help him,” Lachie remembers.

“I decided to try to work on a design and my friend put me in touch with Mat. That’s how we first started working together.”

Lachie says his bosses at Phoebe Solutions in Melbourne are very proud of the volunteer work he is doing with Free 3D Hands and are happy to release him every second Friday to come down to Newhaven to spend time with Mat and collaborate on their projects.

Both Lachie and Mat have devoted countless hours into jointly developing a bionic arm, which is now at prototype stage. Lachie has been doing all the software coding, while Mat takes responsibility for the design work.

“We thought we’d produce a much better product if we put our minds together,” Lachie says.

“It’s a really exciting project to be working on,” he adds.

The charity’s first recipient Eli with the Iron Man hand

The bionic arm is being designed as small as possible, at a size equivalent to that of a nine-year-old child.

“There’s not currently much commercially available between the age of about eight and adulthood,” Mat explains.

“We’re attempting to make something that is the equivalent of a forty-tosixty-thousand-dollar arm and trying to bring the cost down as much as possible so it can be released as an open source. So far, we’ve managed to keep the cost of the parts of our arm to around twenty-seven dollars, which is under one thousandth of the cost.”

Mat refers to statistics provided by the World Health Organisation, which highlight the problem of how difficult it is currently for people in most parts of the world to access or afford assistive devices.

“Australia has a great health system, but many other countries are not so fortunate,” he says.

“Globally only one in ten people are getting what they need predominantly due to the high cost of products and the lack of a skilled workforce. Today more than one billion people in the world need assistive technology and that number is going to double by 2030.”

The aim is for Mat’s design and Lachie’s software code to be shared and replicated anywhere in the world.

“Hopefully others will improve upon what we’ve done,” Mat says.

“It’s created something that is far bigger than ourselves, and will last beyond our time.”

Helping to fine-tune the prototype is Mat’s friend Julian McGregor, who has a residual limb and is testing the device and providing feedback from the user’s perspective.

“Julian and I met through the hand difference community. We have both been involved with the Aussie Hands Foundation and have volunteered at AMP Camps,” Mat says.

“For Julian to have kindly volunteered his time to help with the testing and for us to be getting that input from an adult is really important, because they’re able to provide more detailed feedback than a child.” Mat and Lachie share a deep mutual respect and a common passion for helping others.

“Lachie’s input has been invaluable, and we simply wouldn’t be able to do what we do here without his support. Other than being absolutely brilliant at what he does, his mindset is also aligned to ours, with a strong focus on continuous improvement. Every time he comes down here, what we are developing together gets better and better,” Mat states.

“I view what he’s putting into this as a gift to the world and I think it’s going to change things for a lot of people in a big way. The hand devices we’ve been making up to now have helped people enormously, but I think the bionic arm is going to be a real game changer,” he adds.

Lachie believes that his involvement with Mat will be ongoing.

“I think Mat and I will work on this for many years to come. I want to provide a solid foundation so that other software engineers around the world can take what we’ve done and run further with it,” he says.

Mat reveals that their ultimate goal is for every single person on the planet to have access to assistive technology.

“We may not achieve it in our lifetime, but what we are focusing our efforts on is creating the systems and processes for others to continue on beyond our years,” he emphasises.

“We have a relentless desire to improve on what we’re doing and assist as many people as we can. Again, I want to acknowledge the local community and all our supporters for helping us to achieve our goals. I really can’t thank them enough.”

For information on how to submit an application for an assistive device or to make a donation to Free 3D Hands, visit the charity’s website at www.free3dhands.org for further details.