The creator of the Swing Gate, which reduces the risk of serious injury to farmers when moving livestock through cattle yards, has won the 2011 Inventor of the Year award.
The Swing Gate was created by Edward Evans, 60, from Inverell in NSW, after he was gored by a bull and left with significant scarring. It minimises the risk of injury when livestock, especially cattle, charge or attack a gate within the confined space of a cattle yard or cattle truck. The Swing Gate features a hinge that allows a struck or charged gate to bend so that it prevents gate operators from being struck by the full force of the impact.
According to Innovation Minister Kim Carr, Evans’ deserves much attention for his invention, with innovation the key to transforming Australian industry.
“The Swing Gate is a great example of Australian innovation. It can be installed in any cattle yard or truck cattle crate and shields operators behind a screen that bends in the middle to absorb the impact of a charging bull.”
“The Australian Government is pleased to support the New Inventors Awards and innovative Australians like Mr Edwards through the CSIRO, AusIndustry and IP Australia.”
A full list of The New Inventors winners and finalists is available at http://www.innovation.gov.au/