By Deanne Jeffers
The Furphy Engineering in Shepparton takes on projects ranging the unusual to the essential, whether crafting agricultural water tanks, pumps, or creating time capsules for the community. Now, it’s embarking on a special new project: adapting a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) incubator to be mobile for a good cause.
To celebrate 20 years of supporting premature and sick babies, Life’s Little Treasures Foundation is launching The Mighty Trek Challenge, a 900-kilometre fundraising journey from Sydney to Melbourne this October.
Along the way, the trek will pass through several towns including Shepparton on October 17, drawing communities together to raise awareness and funds for families facing the challenges of the NICU. Every year, 48,000 babies are born prematurely or sick in Australia, which is 1 in 7 newborns.
Furphy Engineering is designing and customising the incubator to be safely pushed on the trek route. Managing Director Adam Furphy said the trek covers much of their business footprint, making it a natural project to support.
Felicia Welstead, CEO of Life’s Little Treasures Foundation, said the support from the Shepparton community has been overwhelmingly positive.
Leading Edge Cycles Shepparton advised on tyres for the mobile incubator, tourism body Destination Goulburn Valley was planning an event to support the trek’s stop in Shepparton, and GV Health staff are bending together to help the Foundation reach its $1M fundraising target, with 50 per cent of the proceeds they raise to be donated back to the hospital to enhance special care for sick and premature babies.
“This vital funding will enable Life’s Little Treasures Foundation to expand our presence with support staff in 20 tertiary hospitals by 2026, doubling our capacity to help families at one of the toughest times in their life,” said Ms Welstead.
A special event is planned for October 17 in Shepparton where locals can join the Walk for Prems and sign up to push the incubator developed by Furphy. To find out more, go to lifeslittletreasures.org.au or walk-for-prems-2025.raiselysite.com/
