To help me keep my dream after a lifetime of difficulty

Hi my name is Joseph Meccariello retired. I bought a Toyota Coaster bus a few years ago for $20000, hoping to realise a dream by going around Australia, as most of my life has been dealing with Mental health issues of which came from a difficult and violent childhood. After 50 odd years in 2015 I was living in and around the Goldfields at that time. I started an intense course of treatment from WA mental health to deal with the issues I was having. (continuing here with SA mental health and local group Nimi, I Kept losing my jobs for various reasons mostly beyond my control. I moved from Adelaide to WA in 1992. I spent 10 years in Northam (the only place you will find white swans in the wild other than England) in 1995 I was involved in a near fatal car accident. I was a passenger in the local Builders, Spadaccini Bros work ute. I suffered multiple fractures to my R leg sooner rather than later I will need a R knee and possibly R hip replacement. That accident took me out of the workforce for 5 years rather than do nothing I went to CY O'Connor TAFE in Northam successfully completing Cert III of Business Studies Cert Bookkeeping and several other courses and after that, after a few years I completed several other courses, Including my real estate salespersons license.

Success was moderate.

In 2002 I moved to Bunbury region after leaving my partner of nine years I returned to Adelaide for 6 months as my Mother had taken ill. I returned 6 months later later this time to Manjimup where I got my motor vehicle salespersons licence I worked for Muir Ford for 12 months then in 2005 I went to Karratha and Dampier for work for 12 months

2006 Back to the goldfields I worked with various mine sites as a safety officer.

The next 10 year were difficult as I was suffering many mental health episodes. After a sad but an a amicable split with my then partner . After 6 months of counselling and treatment I decided to sit for the counselling DIploma which I achieved successfully in 2018.

Shortly after I moved back to Adelaide as I was told my Mum had taken a turn for the worse and passed away on the 11th March 2019. Dad passed away in June 2005 while I was in Karratha.

The next 4 years I dealt with poor health and mental health, and substandard accommodation (always grateful for a roof over my head) until now . I am in good place now and my mental health has improved.

In 2021 I purchased a Toyota Coaster stripped it out and sold what parts I could and converted it to Electric as was part of my dream I would come out of my depressive state when I worked on my my bus. My reasoning was that I could live in my bus and that diesel would be $2 or more a litre sooner than later, believing I wouldn't be able to afford to travel later on for the 3 to 4 years at least .

I found a Electrical Engineer in Newcastle at the time it was hard to find anyone who would supply the batteries and the suitable electric motors I supplied some parts for conversion myself The Engineer sadly would take too long to send my parts The Newcastle engineer's bill was $40000 for 96 batteries 2 electric motors the battery management system and other accessories I part paid my local engineer $ 15000 dollars for the EV conversion. then a couple days ago I asked for a bill so I could keep track of costs The bill was $44000 leaving $29000 to pay hence the reason to do goFundme I have invested too much money to lose my home for the next few years. The Electrical Engineer in Newcastle at the time was the only anyone who would supply the batteries and the suitable electric motors I supplied some parts my self The Engineer sadly would take too long to send my parts and in 2024 I found only one person in Murray Bridge that would handle the conversion .Unfortunately the New castle Engineer substituted the Curtis Controllers ($4000 ea) for the Kelly controllers( $756 ea.) (controllers regulate the electric motors so the motors don't fail) The kelly controllers did fail and its the only way I found out they were substituted. He did however pay for the repairs. The kelly controllers were useless as they would not hold the performance settings. That dispute has progressed to the ACCC If you can please donate. I would really appreciate it. I have been stung with exorbitant prices. However it would not cost as much today I Honestly had no idea.I wouldn't do it again and I recommend no else do it unless they have the resources

The conversion has been mostly successful and the bus has had an inspection by SA Gov authorized signatory engineers The inspection went well citing that the wiring and motors and the batteries have been installed according to Australian design and safety standards It's so close, only minor details need to be dealt with) to getting on the road. After 3 or 4 years on the road I will sell the bus and put it toward a retirement village placing

Thankyou

Joseph Meccariello