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Charlie and Oli Mollard have what they hope will be the winning formula on Lego Masters – Charlie loves robotics and Oli has the “fantabulous” creative flair. All they need to do is curb their enthusiasm and not go over the top, they say.
Yet the siblings are understated and considered when Woman’s Day chats to them from their university digs. Charlie, 19, is doing a Bachelor of Engineering while living at home in Palmerston North, while Oli, 21, has paused a four-year design course in Wellington to work at the Massey University halls, helping to ensure its 700 students are “happy, healthy and making the most of their uni experience”.
Charlie (left) and Oli at Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.
Oli’s own university days have not been without challenges. Oli had an epiphany two years ago and now identifies as nonbinary, something they would not have had the courage to do if they were not in the capital.
“Wellington is a very progressive city,” shares Oli. “I’ve been nonbinary my whole life, but I didn’t have the language to express it because it’s not something that’s taught at school. I had to figure that out for myself. Wellington made me find the language to express who I am and be confident.”
In those two years, the concept of not identifying as either male or female, and using the pronouns “they” and “them”, have become more publicly recognised and accepted.
Charlie smiles, “Since Oli came out, I’ve become a whole lot more aware and able to support people. Oli’s always been my sibling – no matter their pronouns, they are always connected to me by blood.”
Oli loves that more Lego characters are changing over time too, with both male and female figurines with a range of ethnicity representation being included in Lego sets. The shapes of bricks and the electronics are also evolving.
Off to Armageddon as hobbits with their mum Michelle.
Meanwhile, Charlie says, “Robotics were my favourite part of high school, so that’s incorporated into our builds.” He’s currently training for the Robotics World Champs, which will be held in Dallas this month.
He tells, “I’m part of the Massey University team. We have to build two robots to face off against another in a two-minute game that’s basically frisbee golf. Our robots have to be able to drive around a field, pick up frisbees and then shoot them into a goal.”
Lego Masters NZ screens 7.30pm Monday to Wednesday on TVNZ 2.
