Australian mechanic honoured for gifting 19 cars to needy youth after son's death

For some, grief stays with them for a lifetime. But for Australian mechanic Gavin Hynam, the loss of his oldest son became the beginning of a mission that has changed the lives of young people all over regional Victoria. The 65-year-old has put his mechanical skills to work for his community, repairing discarded vehicles and handing over the keys to people who can’t afford transportation. Victoria’s 2027 Australian of the Year Local Hero, Bear, affectionately known as Hynam, has been recognized for his extraordinary generosity.Personal tragedy sparks initiative that changes livesHynam’s dedication to community service started after his oldest son, Preston, died in an accident in 2008, just before he turned 21. And after years of grief, the Horsham-based mechanic has found a new lease of life helping young people tackle financial and practical barriers to independence.The idea began in 2017, when Hynam met two refugees who had recently resettled in the Wimmera region, ABC News reports. He was impressed by their resolve to build new lives and knew that dependable transportation could make a huge difference in their opportunities.He used his professional mechanical skills to fix two second-hand cars and gifted them to the young men once they got their driving licenses. He later broadened the initiative to assist other migrants and disadvantaged young people.