Scouts ready to roll with Kangan Batman TAFE
29 October 2009
Scouts of the 1st Moonee Ponds group will be camping out in style this summer, thanks to Kangan Batman TAFE's automotive students and their trailer construction skills.
The Scout group's newly constructed camp trailer was returned this week, after spending time in Kangan Batman TAFE's Automotive Centre of Excellence, undergoing design, construction and the restoration of the upper cage section as well as a smart new paint job.
Automotive trainer Vince Panozzo said the project, which involved students from the Institute's vehicle body building and painting departments, was completed over seven weeks.
"As part of their assessment, our students work on a range of practical projects, making various trailers throughout the year for many community organisations around Melbourne," he said.
"The Scout group had an old trailer, but it was in very poor condition and unroadworthy. It presented us with the perfect opportunity to contribute to a great community group while giving our students some valuable hands-on experience. It's a win-win situation for everyone."
The six-by-five-foot trailer was fully manufactured, with a recycled upper cage frame to allow the safe transport of camping gear, new suspension, new running gear and a bright new coat of paint in the Scout group colours of purple and black.
Group leader Jackie Fraser said the old trailer had languished in storage for some time before finding new life.
"The trailer replacement project was always on our to-do list but with other facilities and projects taking priority, the replacement / refurbishment was kept on the back-burner," she said.
"We are very grateful for all the effort the Kangan Batman TAFE students and teachers put into this project, and on behalf of our cubs, scouts, venturers and leaders of the 1st Moonee Ponds group, I'd like to thank everyone who was involved."
With its new set of wheels, the scout group will hit the camping trail in style. The new trailer will provide greater flexibility for the group - particularly parents who provide towing services for each camp.
"For the past few months, we've had to use our secondary trailer, which is large and cumbersome. Not many parents have cars which can safely pull such a large trailer," Jackie said.
"With this smaller, more flexible trailer, camping trips will be much easier, and we'll be able to share the towing commitments among more people.
"It's come back to us at the perfect time - we have a large camp at the end of the year and generally have one camp a month, so we'll certainly get lots of usage out of this trailer."
