Maryborough and Bendigo schools reign supreme at a mega 24th RACV Energy Breakthrough, with impressive efforts through hot, windy, dusty conditions (and some lighting too!)
The overall endurance trial winner in the 24-hour Human Powered Vehicle Secondary event was Bendigo Senior Secondary College. The team – Grand Theft Mango completed the most laps of all teams; going around the circuit an impressive of 682 times over a distance of over 900 kilometers. However it was Highview College of Maryborough that won HPV Open category and second place was won by St. Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar School.
In the Primary school 14 hour trial, the impressive Maiden Gully Primary School’s Miss Janey team took line honours.
It was warm conditions and mostly sunny skies across the four days of events held at Princes Park in Maryborough, with the teams setting a crack pace on the track. Schools event coordinator John Stafford said in the lead up to the 24-hour race conditions were idyllic but northern winds on Saturday through out a challenge to the teams.
“Those taking part love this event, whatever the weather and once again the school teams showed fantastic spirit and endurance on Saturday in hot conditions that were at times very windy and dusty.”
A total of 170 schools and in excess of 6,000 people including students, teachers and parents competed in human and hybrid powered competition as well as more humble pushcarts. More than 10,000 spectators turned out to support the students and watch the action.
During the year students and teachers designed and built their environmentally friendly vehicles as part of the schools curriculum, often with the help of parents and local industry.
Competitors also develop team-work skills, improve their fitness, and learn about the importance of a healthy diet and regular physical exercise as part of their training for the event.
In the 24-hour in the Energy Efficient Vehicle Trial the Rode RAGE community team used an electric motor to assist with their pedal power to win the Open Hybrid Category.
Energy Breakthrough involves three stages – presentations to judges, scrutineering and design assessment of the vehicles by RACV engineers and track events for various categories.
The event has become renowned as Australia’s “Green Grand Prix”, the premier science, technology and environment event sparking student interest in these areas by offering a hands-on experience.
RACV event coordinator Ernest Litera said teams continued to impress organisers with their well thought out vehicle construction and design.
The success of the RACV Energy Breakthrough was recognised last month with the last year’s event being named the state’s Best Event and Festival for the second consecutive year at the Victorian Tourism Awards held in Melbourne.
“This award recognises the quality of the event and contribution RACV Energy Breakthrough makes to Maryborough and the state’s tourism industry,” Mr Litera said.
“This success has been possible thanks to the hard work by scores of volunteers; RACV staff, are partners at Central Goldfields Shire and the Country Education Project. We would also like to thank our principal sponsors at Holden, VicRoads, Victorian Education Department, and bankmecu, Coles, LaTrobe University and True Foods.”
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No mention of MEC’s 4 secondary teams. Two overall winners, a runner up and the team that didn’t place won the trial for its class….
Hi Nigel,
What about Lockwood P.S. who is also another Bendigo school, and we seem to not get mentioned much. Team 58 GELTEK won the safety award, and were the overall A1 winner for design and construction and display and presentation. This is my 19th year over at EB and 18 of those are with Lockwood. For some reason we are not recognised by the Bendigo Addy either.
Thanks