MOTORCYCLE mechanical technology apprentices from across the state have been gifted the valuable opportunity to learn first-hand on one of the industry’s latest models, with TAFE Queensland’s Hervey Bay campus receiving a generous donation from Kawasaki Motors Australia.

The 2023 Kawasaki Stockman Ag Bike was delivered to the campus as a permanent loan in late October, with a representative from the business flying up from Sydney to officially hand it over and educate apprentices on the Kawasaki proprietary computer service diagnostic tool that they will need to learn to service the vehicle.

TAFE Queensland motorcycle mechanical technology teacher Jeff Morris said the organisation was grateful for Kawasaki Motors Australia’s generosity and that students in his Hervey Bay based course, which delivers training to apprentices from right across Queensland, would benefit immensely from the new addition.

“Kawasaki Motors Australia has been a great supporter of TAFE Queensland over the years, donating two other bikes to us in the past and providing me with the technical training to be able to pass on to our students,” Jeff Morris said.

“Our course delivers a broad scope of competence, with dealers from cities up and down the coast of Queensland who deal with road bikes, and western dealerships who deal with off-road equipment, sending their apprentices to us for training.”

“It’s important for us to have a wide variety of equipment that enables our students to gain a broad experience in working with all types of bikes they may be faced with in the workplace,” he said.

“This 2023 model Stockman Ag Bike—which was previously used for dealer training—will go a long way to doing just that, offering students a valuable chance to develop their knowledge and skills in some of the latest off-road equipment and technology.”