LOVE CARS? HAVE EXPERTISE? VOLUNTEERS WANTED Have you got automotive/car restoration skills? Mechanical, body, electrical, etc.....Wish to join our community of volunteers in working alongside our students? Keen to help students develop their personal and employability skills? Please join us. Love to have you aboard.
A popular new inclusion to the VCAL program in 2021 has been the elective 'Activity Projects' linked to Personal Development Studies in Years 11 and 12. Each Tuesday and Thursday, students participate in a range of activities aimed at developing decision making, leadership and communication skills throughout applied learning projects. Projects this semester have included:
Car Restoration
Art Projects
Horticulture
Health and Fitness
Podcasting
Film Production
Car Restoration - Mini Moke
Two different groups of approximately 12 students each have began the task of fully restoring our first college car restoration project - a 1972 Australian Built Mini Moke. The vehicle was located and collected from Ballan in Victoria with its engine already removed.
With only some newly acquired basic workshop tools, students have been busily working away in teams twice a week. They have successfully completed the following:
Removed all components from car and stripped body down to a shell
Completed a clean and assessment inspection of body
Removed engine from front sub-frame
Removed most suspension items from front and rear sub-frames
Radial Arms removed
Mid-way through stripping engine
Begun the fabrication of a rotisserie for the body
All students are highly enthusiastic and have done a magnificent job this far. They have no previous expertise or training in car mechanics and use their leadership and innovation skills in identifying a wide range of resources to enable success. These include consulting the Moke Workshop Manual, accessing useful 'DIY You Tube' clips to problem solve, and approaching the general community for assistance or advice.
MOKE Volunteer Support and Thank You
It is hoped that community members with expertise and a passion for cars can join our fun little project and assist in getting the vehicle back on the road. Any advice, assistance or lending of equipment would be highly appreciative. We thank the following people/organisations who have generously helped so far:
Geoff Sarkies (R&S Valiant Club of Victoria) for inspecting and collecting vehicle
Len Read (Racepoint Developments) for donating the Rotisserie Stands
Moke Association of Victoria and its members for voting at their AGM to support our project and the numerous offers of assistance they have provided
Paul Kelly for expertise and assistance in constructing/welding our new Rotisserie
Bluff Road Auto Centre (Chris and Irene) for lending specialist tools when required
Peter Flavelle for donating a large array of spare MOKE parts after a personal restoration
Thank you to all students and helpers for their enthusiasm so far.
Please feel free to contact the VCAL Co-ordinator and car restoration teacher
Frank Martinek for any inquiries or offers of assistance.
Urgently Required - Person with expertise in Body Repairs and Panel Replacement