Snowy Mountains Grammar School Marks Historic First Shape Exhibition Achievement
Snowy Mountains Grammar School (SMGS) is proud to celebrate a significant milestone with the announcement that Year 12 student Aiden Moore has been selected to exhibit his HSC major work in the Shape Exhibition 2026. Shape is one of NSW’s most respected showcases, highlighting the most outstanding Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design projects from across the State. Aiden’s selection is a historic first for SMGS, making this achievement both a personal triumph and a moment of great pride for the entire school community.
The Shape Exhibition is known for featuring innovative, high quality HSC major projects that demonstrate exceptional creativity, technical skill and real-world problem solving. Each year only a small number of students across NSW are chosen. For Aiden to be recognised at this level is an extraordinary accomplishment and reflects his commitment to producing a thoughtful and impactful design.
“Working with young designers such as Aiden and his 2025 cohort, as they grappled with solving real problems to improve our lives, has been both exciting and a privilege.”
Scott Frize – Head of Faculty, Art and Design
Rail Rover: An Innovative Project Showcased in the Shape Exhibition 2026
Aiden’s major work, Rail Rover: Heritage Rail Track Inspection Vehicle, was inspired by his volunteer experience with the Cooma Monaro Railway. Through this work he observed the significant time and physical labour required for track inspections. This insight led him to design a modern, efficient and more accurate solution for maintaining heritage rail infrastructure.
The Rail Rover supports railway volunteers and inspectors by:
- Scanning track beds to identify faults
- Locating areas of wear and damage
- Digitally recording and storing inspection data to support future maintenance
- Reducing the physical workload traditionally required for manual checks
Aiden’s work demonstrates a strong understanding of user needs and a clear connection to real-world application. The device has the potential to support heritage railway organisations across Australia by improving safety, accuracy and efficiency in track maintenance.
Reflecting on his achievement, Aiden said, “It is an amazing feeling to be selected to represent both heritage railway groups in Australia and SMGS at Shape with my Rail Rover. This project has the potential to help heritage rail organisations with recording, documenting and storing information about track conditions. I am absolutely ecstatic to have my Rail Rover on display at Shape and I am excited to see where I can take this project in the future.”
A Strong Year for Art and Design at SMGS
Head of Faculty Art and Design, Mr Scott Frize, expressed his pride in Aiden’s achievement, noting that it represents the growing strength and depth of the school’s creative programs. “It is an incredible achievement for Aiden to be selected to exhibit his work among a select few in the State as part of Shape. Working with young designers such as Aiden and his 2025 cohort, as they grappled with solving real problems to improve our lives, has been both exciting and a privilege.”
This year, six SMGS Art and Design students were nominated for Shape, a remarkable result that reflects the increasing calibre of work produced within the faculty. Their projects were showcased in the Year 12 2025 Major Works Showcase Catalogue, highlighting a diverse range of creative approaches and problem solving skills. Aiden’s final selection from this talented group reinforces the exceptional standard of innovation and design thinking being nurtured at SMGS.
A Milestone for the SMGS Learning Community
Aiden’s recognition in the Shape Exhibition 2026 is more than a personal achievement. It represents an important milestone for SMGS as a learning community committed to cultivating creativity, innovation and a willingness to tackle real-world challenges. His success highlights the opportunities available to students at SMGS, supported by dedicated teachers who encourage curiosity, perseverance and thoughtful design.
The entire SMGS community congratulates Aiden on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to seeing his work showcased as part of the Shape Exhibition 2026.