Hand Brake Turn Dandenong manager Bruce Docker handed $2000 to Chaplain Peter Whitefield to be used for victims of Black Saturday.By Lia Bichel
WITH a week until Christmas and almost a year after the Black Saturday Fires, the staff at Hand Brake Turn, Dandenong are still lending a helping hand.
After the infernos devastated the nation in February, Hand Brake Turn (HBT) Dandenong made an appeal for the donation of old cars, which they could fix up and give to bushfire victims.
HBT, a program to help troubled youth turn their lives around by giving them skills in automotive repairs, received a total of 36 cars.
Seven of the cars were repaired, and the rest were used for scrapped metal or parts.
Money from the parts was used for six-month registration for each vehicle, and last week, the group handed over a final $2000 to Kinglake schools.
Hand Brake Turn Dandenong manager Bruce Docker said the money would be used for a variety of useful things coming up to Christmas including blankets and presents.
“People in the south east responded extremely well and quickly to donating cars for the victims,” he said.
The cheque was presented to Peter Whitefield, who works for Access Ministries and is a chaplain at the three schools in Kinglake- Kinglake West, Middle Kinglake, and Kinglake Primary School.
Mr Whitefield said residents in Kinglake were still dealing with the aftermath of Black Saturday and the money would be very useful as Christmas approaches. Mr Whitefield said people were appreciative of Hand Brake Turn and their efforts, as well as PFD foods which donated Christmas puddings to Kinglake residents.
