Matt Phillpott
Wollongong’s Matt Phillpott, 53, is a quietly spoken and well-presented sort of bloke. He sits at the helm of a company called Rideworx. Does that ring any bells? What if we point out that Rideworx manufactures Barkbusters? Ah. Now there’s a great product everyone knows.
Those with long memories will remember engineer Ted Goddard coming up with the idea for an aluminium hand protector called Barkbusters in the 1980s. Through the ’80s and onwards, Barkbusters became as common as helmets and boots for Australian off-road riders. Ted, a successful engineer with a business to run, produced Barkbusters, virtually by hand, in his spare time with the help of his wife, Ann.