Rare Spares Brisbane, Gold Coast and Head Office have recently combined forces to get behind a great initiative by Queensland’s Community Support Agency and Tate Crocker; “Project EH..!”

Project EH is a program that involves young people in the restoration of an Aussie Icon, the EH Holden. The project aims to help and prepare youths at risk to gain confidence and self-esteem by learning life skills, while being taught practical principles. Many of these young people are early school leavers or are at risk of disengaging from school and not entering the workforce due to broken family relationships, low self-esteem, financial hardship or other issues out of their control. With the knowledge, skills and mentoring that they receive from this program, these kids are able to unlock their potential and begin to make something of their lives.

Tate Crocker is the youth co-ordinator for Community Support Agency and the visionary behind Project EH; he is also a qualified Mechanic and BMW Technician. For the past 9 years Tate has been working with young people, and coming from a broken family himself, believes that he can be an example of how these kids can change their life path for the better, through the correct choices they make.

As a teenager Tate got into a lot of trouble; through stealing, drinking and drugs. Tate went through some real hard times and even considered suicide. Through the mentoring of a Church Minister, Tate was able to turn his life around and begin to make positive life choices.

“With a high number of kids these days being involved in destructive behaviours whether it be delinquency, public nuisance or vandalism, what better way, through Project EH, to give them a sense of pride in restoring something rather than destroying it. This project is a real example of what we are trying to achieve in the lives of these young people.

This car needs a lot of hard work and some people might say why bother. But this project is as much a car restoration as it is a restoration of young people’s lives.

Part of what we teach in our life skills program is that you can make something out of your life no matter what you started with. If you could understand some of these kid’s backgrounds you may start to understand why some behave the way they do. This project is a challenge to prove that our life skill principles work. Things like right attitude, choices, vision and goal setting will see Project EH completed and the students are part of this journey.” said Tate Crocker

The restoration of the EH is to be completed by the end of 2008; and will help more than 50 kids gain hands on and practical life experiences. The completed EH will then be sold at auction, with the funds raised being put back into the automotive program for a future project car, improved workshop facilities, and the opportunity to help more youths at risk.