Sapphire Coast Historic Vehicle Club has been mentoring Eden Marine High School students since 2003, with the men and boys working side by side this year to rebuild the old Ford in the club’s South Pambula workshop.

Last year, a rare 1956 Morris Minor Electric was restored to its former glory and the car now takes pride of place in the car club’s motor museum along with its other vintage vehicles.

EMHS boys advisor Bernie Langford said that since the partnership with the car club began, 52 boys had participated in the mentoring program with a number of them progressing to become mechanics and panel beaters once they left school.

Mr Langford said five students – Tom Kiely, Matthew Rootsey, Matthew Patterson, Jason Kebby , Riley Kennedy – were involved this year, each boy trading text books for tools two days a fortnight. 

Their aim is to have the Model T Ford rebuilt, restored and road-worthy by the end of the year.

The Sapphire Coast Historic Vehicle Club has a membership of more than 200 members and 155 historic vehicles on its register.

Its members enjoy tinkering around the workshop with their young charges and over the course of the year strong bonds are formed between the men and boys.

“The mentoring program is a service we offer to the community,” car club member Bill Crowther said.

Mr Crowther and fellow members Denis Kimber, Harry Keys, John Turbet and “Lob” said the students gained skills that would help them in later life, either in the workforce or maintaining their own cars.

“It’s good for the boys to be able to work on a project and see it through to fruition,” they said. “It’s good for their self esteem.

The benefit of the mentoring program is clearly mutual: “Us old blokes get as much out of it as the lads … it keeps us on our toes.” 

Mr Langford said the school was also involved in a mentoring program aimed at younger boys, restoring push bikes and donating them to people in need throughout the Eden community.