This year’s Energy Breakthrough wasn’t just a test of endurance and innovation, with the event’s organisers and volunteers being tested by the horrific weather conditions on Thursday.
“This year’s Energy Breakthrough highlighted student’s resilience and tenacity,” Event Director John Stafford said. While multiple schools were not able to travel on Thursday due to the adverse forecast, there was minimal disruption to the event’s schedule with event organisers being able to reschedule and accommodate every school’s needs.
Away from the tracks, the Transurban Future of Transport Expo was expanded with new attractions including robotic traffic cones and Virtual Reality activities from Transurban and La Trobe University’s ‘Clever’ vending machine where participants could win some cool gear by completing challenges.
“Schools came from across the state and interstate – country, city, big and small schools,” Energy Breakthrough Committee Chairperson Hugh Delahunty said.
“Congratulations to all participants for a great four days of innovation, determination and endurance. After a difficult start because of the weather, we enjoyed a great three days of human endurance.”
Caulfield, Girton and White Hills reign supreme at 2019 Energy Breakthrough
Caulfield Grammar School delivered a fairy tale finish at the 2019 Energy Breakthrough with the secondary school’s pedal-powered team, The Big Cheese, taking out the 24-hour trial.
It was neck and neck between Caulfield and St Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar School, before the former managed to snatch the win by less than one minute.
To make their first ever trial win extra sweet, Caulfield Grammar School also broke an Energy Breakthrough record with 646 laps, equalling a distance of 1020 kilometres.
In the Energy Efficient Vehicle category, Girton Grammar School Bendigo’s XCEPTION powered to three consecutive overall wins.
During the 16-hour Human Powered Vehicle Primary Trial, White Hills Primary School were crowned champions with 369 laps, totalling 409 km.
SPECIAL THANKS TO …
The Energy Breakthrough is a joint initiative of Central Goldfields Shire Council and the Country Education Partnership and made possible thanks to support from the State Government, Regional Roads Victoria, La Trobe University, Transurban, Central Highlands Water and True Foods.
Well done and an event we must keep in Maryborough.
I’m not quite sure how in the Secondary HPV Open SMBGS in the spirit of the event construction guidelines can score 23.7 out of a possible 25 when not one student would have been involved in the design nor construction of the vehicle presented. This trike is factory built and has been the result of many years testing with no input from secondary school students. Surely there should be a points deduction for entering a vehicle that is BOUGHT NOT BUILT.
This would appear to be an unfair expensive advantage which for some participants is out of reach to be truly competitive in an event that prides itself on innovation.