Students win award

Eight students including Steven and Matthew Mills, Sam and Thomas Deveson, Nathan Budanow, Edward Morrissey and Clare and James Butler together with their families and local community businesses showed that a combined team effort can produce remarkable results. The team won the overall Display and Presentation Award from over 85 Secondary School teams including a $200 prize. Their passion, enthusiasm and overall drive to train together, produce a competitive vehicle and field a serious racing team particularly impressed the judges. The teams put their human cycle powered tricycle at the front of the grid in practice for the race, then proceeded to break the previous track record fulfilling one of their goals. Another team Bendigo Senior Sec. College also managed this just pipping our team by 1/10th of a second.

Our team raced competitively with the other top vehicles in the race for the first hour until a disabling crash snapped our seat belt supporting struts which put us into the workshop for an hour. Parent Greg Deveson snapped into action quickly fabricating 2 metal clips to get the team back on the track. The team then cycled steadily through the field from 85th position to 26th with the help of ice baths, zip ties and aircraft aluminium adhesive foil keeping the bike together and managing speeds of over 50 kmh.

Overall a very rewarding, character building and memorable experience for all involved.

Many thanks to teachers Andrew McLean (for his technical GPS tracking data and overall support on the weekend). Paul Calleja (for his pre race work and encouragement to the team to chase their goals). The Mills and particularly all of the rest of the Deveson family, Greg, Sonja and Renata providing valuable support track side with nutritious meals, rider schedules and bike maintenance.

Many local sponsors made this great experience possible including :

Bendigo Bank
Circle Credit
G & S Joinery
Gisborne Self Storage
Gisborne Student Union
Hunt Real Estate
Macedon Ranges Horizontal Drilling
Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Michael Graefe
Mitre 10
Mt Gisborne Homes
Pure Heat
Rain & Horne Real Estate
Sunbury Bike Hub
Wallaces Farm and Ind. Supplies

David Butler / Coordinator


Finally we would like to mention a special congratulations to the Live4Life winners.
A unique partnership between schools and community targeting youth mental health in the Macedon Ranges Shire.
On Tuesday 12th of October, GSC students attended a Live4Life forum at Braemar College in Woodend. Congratulations to the following students who received awards on the day.

• Hannah Goodwin (Major Prize Winner – Individual Entry – A kit for Mental Health Promotion)
• Marnie Bruce and Taylor Burns (Pod Cast)
• Sophie Steinbach (Postcard)
• Liz Ryan (Short Film)
• Emma Bowly, Caitlyn Marinier and Beckie Van Schellen (Powerpoint Slide)
• Joel McKinnon (Slideshow)