A (Hand Brake) Turn

By Lia Bichel
Leslie Cook, 70, was the first to donate his car, a Toyota Corolla.
“We have had the car in the family for about 35 years, and we are just getting too old to drive it around the suburbs, so we were looking to give it away,” he said.
“It is in very good condition and I am pleased to help out. The victims need all the assistance they can get so I hope it goes to someone who can use it and love it.”
Hand Brake Turn, an organisation offering an automotive training course to disadvantaged youth, has been overwhelmed with donated cars to help with its bushfire relief efforts.
Last week, Marc Clothier of Hand Brake Turn, told the News that staff and trainees were looking for cars, not being used by their owners, to fix up and donate to victims left without a means of transportation. Since then they have been overwhelmed with a flood of donations.
“We have been absolutely flat out,” said manager Bruce Docker. “The phones have been ringing off the hook with people wanting to donate their cars.
“People of all ages are donating, from a woman in her 20s, a family man in his 30s, and seniors.
“Some of the cars are a bit old, but we can use them for parts, or get a slightly inflated price for the scrap metal. People are also donating tools and oil. Everything helps.”
More than a dozen cars have been donated, and Mr Docker said he expected the number would rise.
“Staff volunteered to work overtime to fix up the cars, they are happy to do it,” he said.
Mr Docker said trainees at Hand Brake Turn were enthusiastic about rebuilding the cars and helping the bushfire relief efforts.
He said they would be involved in the whole process, from picking up the cars, rebuilding them and giving them to victims in need. The people who donated the cars would also be involved in the process.
“I think it’s good for the giver to see who they are donating to, and the person who is receiving to see who the giver is,” he said. “Call me oldfashioned, but I think it’s important for people to connect like that.”
Hand Brake Turn will donate the first two rebuilt cars to two CFA members who lost their homes and vehicles while they were fighting bushfires off their property.