Page 129 - Demo

127Frustrated by the lack of a suitable workbench to make the job easier, George simply made one himself.Before Australians turned to side hustles like becoming influencers, selling wind chimes on Etsy and putting photos of their cats in lingerie on OnlyFans, we actually invented things.Back in 1975, George Lewin, a 25-year-old ABC TV news journalist, was struggling to build a table. Frustrated by the lack of a suitable workbench to make the job easier, he simply made one himself. The Triton Work Centre%u2019s clever design meant it could transform ordinary power tools into a fully functional work station. Lightweight yet sturdy, it became an iconic tool for Aussie handymen, o%u00a0ering both portability and professional-grade performance.Impressed with his creation, George sought a company to bring it to market. After being knocked back by various manufacturers, he put his on-screen presentation skills to work.The Inventors%u00a0 was an incredibly popular TV series that ran on the ABC from 1970 to 1982. It tapped into the Australian knack for innovation, featuring everyday Aussies pitching their inventions to an enthusiastic panel.Nine times out of ten, the inventor was a bloke who%u2019d cobbled together some kind of device to help you reverse a caravan. But it was actually pretty good TV, and often won the ratings. So when George rocked up with his orange workbench, a DIY-loving audience responded.A seasoned TV pro with a good product, George went out on his own, continuing to market his workbench on TV. He also placed TVs%u00a0 in stores across the country that played how-to videos %u2013 most of which he fronted %u2013 demonstrating the features of his workbench.Success came quickly, and the one-stop sawing and clamping device went on to sell more than 400,000 units, both in Australia and overseas.Over the years, changes were made to the design, new products were added and eventually, in 1999, George sold his company.The ongoing success of the Triton Work Centre is a tribute to a land of inventors.YEAR 1975DESIGNER George Lewin