General News
26 November, 2024
Hot weather and fierce competition couldn’t stop local teams in 2024 Energy Breakthrough
The 2024 edition of Energy Breakthrough (EB) has been hailed a success, with a number of local schools overcoming challenges, and other schools, to claim victory in several categories and events.
This year’s event saw a 10 percent increase in numbers compared to last year, with schools from South Australia and New South Wales taking part, as well as schools immersing themselves in EB for the first time.
With students competing against their peers and temperatures in the low to mid-30s across the event as well as rain, in the end the event highlighted the spirit of innovation and perseverance, with local schools outdoing themselves across the weekend.
Avoca Primary School continued its winning record — with team Avoca Strive coming first overall in the TRYathlon Primary class having come first in the design and track components, and second in display.
It was sister team Avoca Thrive that almost mirrored these results in the A1 HPV category, winning overall after placing first in design, and second across display and trials.
Fellow local primary schools St Augustine’s, Talbot and Carisbrook also polled strongly.
The Maryborough Education Centre (MEC) pipped Highview College at the post in the secondary HPV B1 event, outscoring them by just 1.4 points to come second and third respectively.
In the B2 event the opposite was true, with Highview’s The Next Episode coming in second place, ahead of MEC’s Voltaic in fourth.
Highview however showed just who is the king of the mountain, with the school’s Olympus team claiming first place in the C category, ahead of MEC’s Stampede in second place.
A first for this year’s event was the launch of the Australian-first Sphero Global Challenge, which featured a series of coding missions for students to complete.
Delivered by the Country Education Partnership (CEP) and the Central Goldfields Shire Council, this year’s event highlighted the event’s future locally, according to CEP education team leader Nigel Preston.
“I feel like our first year back from COVID in 2022, schools were battling to restart their EB programs,” he said.
“In 2023 it was about trying to build some momentum and growing interest amongst schools.
“This year, many schools were back to doing what they do best: innovating by creating new aerodynamic shapes, new vehicles and testing new technologies using carbon fibre, kevlar, titanium and 3D printing.
“Our schools remain passionate about hands-on learning, encouraging girls into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) as well as bringing school communities together.”
Excitement is already building for the 2025 event, which is set to take place from Wednesday, November 19 to Sunday, November 23.