Engineer’s skills give helping hands to those in need
A Victorian man who makes prosthetic limbs for children was among the winners of the Editor’s Choice medallists at the 2019 Pride of Australia awards for an act of instinctive bravery.
Pride of Australia
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Extraordinary Australians have been honoured for their humanity, courage and community service with a prestigious prize.
Victorian Mat Bowtell, who makes prosthetic limbs to turn tragedy into change, was among the winners of the Editor’s Choice medallists at the 2019 Pride of Australia awards, for an act of instinctive bravery.
Mr Bowtell, founder of Free 3D Hands, has been volunteering his time for two years helping more than 150 kids in need of prosthetic hands and AIDS patients.
“I am very emotional being here today, it is something very different to where I was just two years ago being made redundant by Toyota as part of the automotive industry closure,” Mr Bowtell said.
“And at the time I didn’t understand that I just asked myself the question, ‘if money didn’t exist how would I spend my time?’ and I am very fortunate to have a wife who told me to follow my passion and supported me all the way.”
Using his redundancy money, Mr Bowtell said he wanted to “use his engineering skills” to share a little bit “about himself with others”.
“I made the first hand for a kid and when I saw the smile on their face being able to do things they have never done before, and became very quite emotional, extremely satisfying and rewarding,” he said.
“I think as a society we have a responsibility to look after people and I think if we shared a bit about ourselves then I don’t see volunteering as sacrificing but staying true to our core values.”
Free 3D Hands has now been formalised as a registered charity at Phillip Island.