What started as an idea has grown into a small business concept that could be implemented all over the world.
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Not many 21-year-olds have their own business, but Will Clarke is one of them.
Willo Industries and the accompanying studio were officially launched on September 15 after months of hard work.
Will, who has Austism, loves sport and in particular the great Aussie game of cricket.
In order to learn some new skills and give him greater opportunities, Will started refurbishing old cricket bats with the help of the Men’s Shed in Bowral.
Artists from across the country began painting the refurbished bats and a huge collection were auctioned off earlier this year.
The auction raised more than $25,000 which went toward the launch of Will’s own small business, Willo Industries.
An old red rattler train, located at Kazcare in Bowral was refurbished to create a studio and gallery not just for Will, but anyone with a disability.
Will’s mum Ange Clarke said Willo Industries would soon become an inclusive and fair business of choice for people living with disabilities.
“What we hope to do now is kick-start a business, not just about cricket bats, but providing an environment and offer experiences for people who have a disability,” she said.
“This is an incredible retreat Will can come to and his world has opened up.”
Ange said that the concept of Willo Industries should be implemented in all communities, not just in Australia but across the world.
"We hope to open the door to more people like Will, and offer them the opportunity to work with the bats and things like art classes,” she said.
“We hope to have this site as a model for communities to look into and realise what the possibilities are. Our kids deserve to have what we take for granted, things to do, places to go, choice.”
Willo Industries currently sits inside the Your Angel charity.
Your Angel was established in 2006 by Peter and Vicki Kazacos and is based at Kazcare.
The focus is to provide direct assistance to people who are disadvantaged or in crisis by providing financial assistance, training, education, accommodation and other services.
Mr Kazacos said Your Angel would give Willo Industries the opportunity to grow.
“It allows the business to grow without having to worry about the bureaucracy that wears businesses down,” he said.
“Over a period of time we hand it all over and it becomes it’s own business.”
The Willo Indusries website is now live and can be visited at http://www.willoindustries.com.au/.