QUAD BIKE safety is something close to Mark Gubbins’ heart.
It inspired the Chatsworth farmer to develop his Rollover Rescue Tracker (RRT), an invention that he says could have saved the life of his nephew.
Mr Gubbins was last week awarded the District Encouragement Award at Sheepvention for his device which can be fitted to all terrain vehicles and other machinery.
“The device can be attached to any moving object that can provide a power source,” he said.
“When the vehicle is inverted it sends a message to any contacts you program into it – family members, friends or neighbours.
“It can use a (mobile) or satellite signal to send the message within eight minutes.”
Mr Gubbins said employees were often working on farms alone and for extended periods of time.
“If isolated people become trapped they can get help sooner,” he said.
“If only someone had thought of it years ago.”
Mr Gubbins’ RRT was one of many inventions submitted across the two-day event.
Sheepvention media coordinator Paige Cross said the value of ag-innovation was in the event’s name.
He came up with the auger system and persisted until he got it right
- Harry Green, Grovedale
“Sheepvention is a cross between a sheep show and inventions which reflects just how highly the Pastoral and Agricultural Society consider inventions,” she said.
“There are some pretty innovative people out there.”
The overall winner of the competition was David Franklin from Chatsworth with his native grass and herb seed applicator.
With the assistance of Grovedale friend Harry Green, Mr Franklin spent years developing an applicator that would sow the “light and fluffy” seed effectively.
The Greening Australia contractor said what would normally take two or three people one full day to sow, would now only take one person about an hour-and-a-half. PJ Green Agricultural Engineering’s previously developed suction system ensures the seeds are spread over the ground evenly, without catching the wind.
Mr Green said his friend’s dedication had been amazing.
“He came up with the auger system and persisted until he got it right,” he said. “I then used my knowledge to drive it electronically.”