Replica makes a genuine difference

A GROUP of Dandenong automotive students has sold a replica Ford Roadster to raise funds for a philanthropic education trust.
Students from Chisholm Institute of TAFE’s Dandenong campus spent 18 weeks building a 1932 Ford Roadster replica late last year.
The roadster was auctioned for $66,000 in March this year. And on Friday 28 September, the students handed a cheque for $5000 from the proceeds of the replica to the Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation to go towards the philanthropic trust’s mission to provide scholarships and education subsidies to poorer students with a desire to achieve.
Chisholm Automotive Technology manager Paul Hamlett said a core group of five students, as well as others, built the vehicle over 18 weeks starting late last year. The project involved students from disciplines ranging from automotive and engineering through to hospitality, multi-media, panel beating and spray painting.
Mr Hamlett said he believed the vehicle was one of only a few 1932 Ford Roadster replicas that had achieved full road registration in Australia.
“Funding raised from this project has been earmarked for students wishing to study in the automotive industry. The aim of the project was to engage students and extend their current skill base and involve local industry,” he said.
Michael Mavracic, 36, was one of the students involved in building the replica and handing over the funds. He said he had spent more than 100 hours filming and documenting the creation of the 1932 Roadster.
“The project was a huge learning curve for me and it was hard to edit more than a 100 hours of film down to 10 minutes. I was proud to be part of such a project. Discussions are continuing with a production company with the project possibly appearing on Foxtel.”