Inventiveness locked in

Lock and key: Handyman Graham Rothie has devised a new way to fix locks at Leo Marquard Hall residence.

Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Tired of replacing the often-damaged door locks at Leo Marquard Hall residence, handyman Graham Rothie, 63, came up with a simple but lasting solution.

Instead of throwing the locks away, as had been done for the past 11 years, Rothie devised a way to fix them, saving time and money for the university.

The tall residence along Main Road in Rosebank is subject to strong winds, and gusts slam doors shut on a regular basis. That takes its toll on the locks.

"The weakness of these locks is that they don't have much holding them, and they break easily if the door is banged," Rothie explained.

In his own time, Rothie now bolts the damaged locks, tightening their innards with a strategically placed screw.

"These locks will now hold on for a long time," he says confidently.

Rothie has always enjoyed trying and testing new things.

"I like to experiment with things, even at home, and see where I can cut costs."