Recycle race picks up

By Russell Bennett
COCKATOO Primary School students had the time of their lives recently, competing in a carting race with a twist.
Students entered both a “pushcart” and a Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) in the RACV Energy Breakthrough Challenge held in Maryborough from 24 to 27 November, and came away grinning from ear to ear after competing as a team against schools from across the state, and learning first-hand about recycling in the process.
Vehicles entered in the challenge must be made of recycled materials, and the event revolves around the reduce, re-use and recycle principle.
“Every team had to fit that in, in some way,” Cockatoo Primary Grade 5/6 teacher Sarah Wintle said.
“Our theme was EPIC – Every Phone Is Critical – and our emphasis was on recycling mobile phones.
“The students learned all about that.”
But it wasn’t just the Cockatoo Primary’s student and teacher community who got involved in the event, held three hours’ drive from the school.
The school’s parents banded together to raise money for one of the vehicles.
“In our pits for the HPV eight-hour endurance event, we had parents doing massages on kids’ legs and others cooking food,” Ms Wintle said.
“Some even held clothes up to the heater so the kids could keep warm.
“It was a huge team effort.”
Sadly for students competing in the pushcart category, the sprint race was cancelled. But they still had the design and construction, obstacle course, endurance race and presentation events to look forward to.
HPV contestants took part in the similar events, as well as a time-trial.
The two Cockatoo vehicles finished eighth and 12th from fields of 30-plus vehicles.
“The kids were just outstanding,” Ms Wintle said.
“And our parents – well they’re just the best in the world.”
Some parents helped engineer the vehicles, while one even helped in the design and build phases.
Ms Wintle said the Maryborough experience was “so rewarding for me as a teacher” and “there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as the kids crossed the finish line”.
“Most 12-year-old kids don’t want a bar of having their parents involved in what they’re doing,” she said.
“But these kids were turning back the clock – doing everything possible to make their parents proud, like seven or eight-year-olds.”
Students learned life skills of self-confidence, teamwork, leadership and strong work ethics that Ms Wintle said would serve them well for the rest of their lives.
“They would turn up in rain, hail or shine for training on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons – completely of their own freewill,” Ms Wintle said.
“They didn’t have to be out there training for a school event, but they had an amazing work ethic.”
The students trained from February last year right up to the Energy Breakthrough Challenge, and also competed in a similar event in Wonthaggi last March.
Ms Wintle was adamant Cockatoo Primary would continue with the RACV event in the future. And she can’t keep away, either.
“Every year I say I’ll have next year off, but I’ve been doing this for eight years now,” she said.
“It’s just so rewarding.
“I’ll probably still be doing this with a zimmer frame and false teeth.”
Emerald and Gembrook primary schools and Emerald Secondary College also participated in the event – which draws around 10,000 visitors into Maryborough each November.
“In the future, I’d love it if a similar event was held in the hills,” Ms Wintle said.
“One for Cardinia.”