Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Free 3D Hands and every donation will help.

I organise an annual bicycle ride for friends and acquaintances - the “Gippsland Ouest Classique” or West Gippsland Classic, on the quiet country roads south of Loch in West Gippsland.

The ride is on Sunday 30 November 2025 starting at Loch. Each rider donates to Free 3D Hands, located in Newhaven, Phillip Island. I have been visiting the island for more than 50 years and have always been drawn to its rugged coastline, quiet beaches and beautiful flora and fauna.

Free 3D Hands is an Australian charity on Phillip Island. It uses 3D printing technology to design and manufacture hands and assistive devices for free. Rather than protecting its intelligence through patents, they share their ideas and collaborate with others around the world to accelerate development and make the technology accessible.

Traditionally manufactured prosthetic hands which children outgrow quickly can cost as much as $20,000. Free 3D Hands makes assistive devices accessible to all.

There is a terrific back story to this charity. In 2017 Mat Bowtell, an engineer at Toyota, was made redundant when Toyota closed its Australian operations. In the 3 years leading up to the well known closure of the Australian motor industry, Mat started by making a 3D printed hand at home for a boy in Newcastle. With that initial success, he started making devices for children around Australia and overseas. Having finished at Toyota, Mat used his redundancy payment to establish the charity. He also returned to live on Phillip Island where he had grown up. Mat is effusive about the community support he has received.

In 2020, Mat received the Regional Development Victoria Leadership and Innovation Award - richly deserved!

In 2022 we raised $5,965 for Free 3D Hands. I am hoping we can top that this time!

If you visit Phillip Island, take a little time out and visit the factory at 3/32 Boys Home Rd, Newhaven.

You can also learn more about Free 3D Hands at its website

https://free3dhands.org

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this wonderful cause. Want to join me in making a difference? I’m raising money to benefit Free 3D Hands Ltd, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this wonderful cause.