Aiden Moore, who graduated from Snowy Mountains Grammar School in 2025, has been selected for SHAPE 2026, an annual exhibition at the University of Technology Sydney showcasing the very best HSC major works in Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design.
His project, Rail Rover, was inspired by his volunteer work with the Cooma Monaro Railway. Observing firsthand the time, effort and safety risks involved in manual track inspections, Aiden set out to design a smarter solution. The result is an innovative device capable of scanning track beds, identifying faults and digitally recording inspection data, offering heritage rail organisations a safer and more efficient way to monitor and maintain infrastructure.
This achievement is significant. Each year, more than 10,000 students across New South Wales complete major design projects, with around 1,500 nominated for SHAPE. From these, only 56 are selected for exhibition. Aiden is also the first Snowy Mountains Grammar School student to be recognised in this way, marking an important milestone for the School.
At the exhibition opening, Aiden’s work received further recognition when he was named one of only three Design and Technology students to receive the Spruson & Ferguson Award for Good Prospects for IP Protection and Commercial Success. This award acknowledges both the innovation of his design and its real-world potential, and provides industry guidance to support future development.
The exhibition will be on display at UTS for five weeks, with students and educators from across the state visiting to view the selected works.
Aiden also had the opportunity to connect with leaders in education and government, including NESA representatives and The Hon. Steve Whan MP, Member for Monaro and NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education.
This achievement reflects the strength of applied learning at Snowy Mountains Grammar School, where students are encouraged to think critically, solve real-world problems and bring ideas to life through design.