General News
21 November, 2022
Local teams perform well at 2022 Energy Breakthrough
Rain didn’t dampen the 30th Energy Breakthrough spirit over the weekend — not even an emergency evacuation order as a thunder storm rolled over the town on Saturday night. While nearby bushfires threatened the last EB in 2019, this year the site...
Rain didn’t dampen the 30th Energy Breakthrough spirit over the weekend — not even an emergency evacuation order as a thunder storm rolled over the town on Saturday night.
While nearby bushfires threatened the last EB in 2019, this year the site had to be temporarily evacuated after a storm lashed the town on Saturday evening and a severe weather warning was issued.
It was the second piece of official advice given on the wild weather, after Victoria Police ordered all EB camping infrastructure located under trees to be relocated to Jubilee Oval on Friday night, following advice from the Incident Control Centre in Bendigo.
“The race had to be stopped because there was an emergency evacuation order issued by the police and everybody got evacuated to local schools. Safety is paramount,” Central Goldfields Shire councillor and Energy Breakthrough governance group chairperson Liesbeth Long said.
“By 8.30 pm, the storm had passed and by 10.30, believe it or not, the race was running again. That’s how well it was organised that even a severe weather warning couldn’t stop it. That’s kind of the spirit of Energy Breakthrough, that whatever happens, you take it in your stride. You look after your mates.”
Due to the pause, the 24-hour trial was ultimately cut down to 19 hours, leading to victory for winners Bendigo Senior Secondary College’s (BSSC) Earth Mover — EEV Single Power Source with 510 laps — and Peninsula Human Power’s Hare & Forbes — Human Powered Vehicle with 505 laps.
Cr Long said despite the weather setbacks, it was a great five days back on the track.
“The event went great, I couldn’t fault it. I’m super proud of everyone and I’m so grateful for the volunteers,” she said.
“To see everyone and see the kids, they were so happy that it’s back after two years of COVID and that the event was able to be run again.
“It was also the 30th year, I don’t know of a lot of events that run for 30 years so that’s a feat in itself.
“I take my hat off to the organising team and the committee of volunteers. Everyone has done an amazing job and I can’t wait for next year. Bring on next year.”
Local schools gave stand out performances over the five days.
Avoca Primary School was a shining star in the HPV - A Class - Section 1 competition.
Their Avoca United team took out all three sub categories — Design & Construction, Display & Presentation, and the trial, ultimately crowned the overall winner.
Avoca’s second team, Avoca Inspiration, almost exactly repeated the results in the Try-athlon Class A (Primary) event.
The team won Design & Construction and the trial, and thanks to those efforts were crowned overall winner.
In the Pushcarts - Section, St Augustine’s Primary School’s team Super Saints took out the track events and was crowned the overall winner.
In the HPV - Secondary, Highview College and Maryborough Education Centre (MEC) performed very well.
Highview’s team Jewel of Jumanji won the Class B1, following success in Design & Construction and the trial.
Their Farmer Wants A Trike team was the overall winner in Class B2, with a strong win in Display & Presentation.
Team H.C AstraZ also won the Class C section, with wins in Design & Construction and the trial.
For MEC, team Voltaic won the Class B2 trial, and came runner-up overall.
The results were repeated in Class C with team Stampede winning the Display & Presentation to again come runner-up overall.
A robotics pilot program also featured at this year’s EB, consisting of four schools — Carisbrook Primary School, Avoca Primary School, Victory Christian College and Maryborough Education Centre.
Participants worked to code and navigate a Sphero Bolt Robot to perform a series of complex tasks in a set of three challenges, including a dance routine and obstacle course. The final challenge saw participants inspect a complicated labyrinth, and then take one hour to code their robots to navigate the maze.
Carisbrook was ultimately crowned the most successful primary school team, and Victory Christian College in the secondary.