Design History
We’ve Come A Long Way
Since The First Model Was Made By Queensland Rotarian Des LaRance
1998 - Model 1
First design by Queensland Rotarian, Des LaRance made from old bicycle parts, plastic seats and marine ply. 120 made in WA.
1999 - Model 2
Designed by Workshop Manager Br. Olly Pickett, welded steel flat bar gave our wheelchair a new structure that could be mass produced. 250 made.
2000 - Model 3
With the encouragement of CEO Gordon Hudson, Workshop Manager, Br Olly and a team of volunteers designed the first aluminium-based wheelchair. 300 made.
2001 - Model 4
Spoked wheels gave way to moulded BMX wheels. 4,857 made.
2005 - Model 5
A wider seat was introduced and a new braking design was employed. 2,170 made.
2006 - Model 6
A triangular linkage was used to lock the frame together. The swivel wheel and footplate assembly could be removed for packing. 2,172 made.
2007 - Model 7
A quadrilateral linkage was used to lock the frame together. The swivel wheel and footplate rotated under the seat for packing. 3,430 made.
2008 - Model 8
A new braking system was introduced thanks to a great insight by Workshop Volunteer Bob Morris who simply bent the brake arm flat bar in the plane of the flat bar. 4,495 made.
2009 - Model 9
Guidelines from WHO prompted radical changes which were made by a team of volunteers with advice from Ray Mines of Motivation Australia. The new model was named “The Adjusta”; a name suggested by CEO Gordon Hudson. The name reflecting the array of adjustability built into the new design.
The spoked wheels were reintroduced along with the self-propelling rims and a removable tray table. Almost 50,000 made by September 2025 and counting!