College Information & Events
02 June By Mr. Alan Strange, SRT Coordinator
Recently the Sustainable Racing Team was visited by Mr Evan Milne, an occupational therapist who delivered an inspiring talk for our students, to begin an exciting new project for our SRT.
Evan spoke of his love of life and outdoor activities, his desire to study the journeys of the explorer Major Mitchell and of his challenging health affliction that has resulted in substantial disruption to his life and direction.
The project that the Sustainable Racing Team are undertaking will be to create a 4-wheel off-road electric vehicle that will enable Evan to access the bush he loves so much. SRT anticipates being involved in the frame construction and fit out, while Evans other contacts are assisting with machining and design tasks.
The connection with Evan comes via Alan Strange’s previous business Astec Services, where Evan, Alan and Astec staff often co-operated on the design and fabrication of many one-off devices to assist people with disabilities. In that setting Evan showed amazing compassion and a willingness to work on a range of things from electric wheelchairs to car modifications, all with the aim of helping people access the community. Unfortunately for Evan, the tables have now turned and since contracting an extremely rare disease that is slowly affecting all of his body and reducing his mobility, he is now in need of many of the services that he once championed for others.
Evan’s great attitude was evidenced by the sense of humor he displayed during his talk to our students and his zest for life during the subsequent demonstration of “stunt” riding in the carpark using his current 3-wheel disability scooter!
Given COVID, the SRT race schedule has been severely affected both last year and this, meaning that we are looking for new ways to direct our team’s energy. This project for Evan alongside development of a new race trike for the team, refurbishment of our wind tunnel, design of a new aerodynamic shell and the construction of new trainers means the team still has plenty of useful projects underway for our students.
Evan responded by saying: “Thanks for your commitment to this project: please pass on to the students my appreciation of their respect, attention, questions and ideas and their welcome of me into their space”
Here are some comments from a few SRT students after Evans visit:
“I really enjoyed listening to what Evan had to say on Thursday and I found it really interesting about what he does and what he’s been through, his activities on his electric scooter thing definitely takes a toll on how hard or easy it is to get around in the bush/tracks he goes on. So I think it is a great idea for us to help him to design and create a better suited vehicle for him to get around in. I found it very interesting and I would like to maybe help in the future to create this vehicle so his dreams may come closer in the making. Thanks from Izzy”
“I really enjoyed him being here, and I can’t wait for everyone to work on the off road mobility scooter” Laclan