General News
17 November, 2022
Energy Breakthrough takes off for 2022
After battling extreme temperatures and fire in 2019, this year Energy Breakthrough (EB) competitors are dealing with the exact opposite — rain and potential thunderstorms. But that hasn’t dampened anyone’s spirit, with 111 schools flooding...
After battling extreme temperatures and fire in 2019, this year Energy Breakthrough (EB) competitors are dealing with the exact opposite — rain and potential thunderstorms.
But that hasn’t dampened anyone’s spirit, with 111 schools flooding into town Wednesday morning for the five-day event.
It’s a bigger weekend than usual for the EB, as 2022 marks its return for the first time in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This iteration is also the Energy Breakthrough’s 30th anniversary.
Central Goldfields Shire councillor and Energy Breakthrough governance group chairperson Liesbeth Long has been busy judging categories over Wednesday and Thursday, and said the atmosphere is great.
“There’s a great vibe in the air, there’s heaps of people around, and the site looks amazing,” she said.
“We’ve had a lot of rain which has been a contentious thing but it means everything looks green and lush.
“We’ve also got new signage up which we’ve never had before and that looks great.
“In terms of entries, it’s a bit down on our previous entries but we were expecting that with COVID. Next year and the year after, I think we’ll be back to pre-COVID numbers pretty quickly.”
Weather conditions are very different this year compared to the last EB in 2019, where competitors battled blistering heat and the threat of bushfires nearby.
Today’s forecast is partly sunny with a top of 22 degrees, and while the weather will hang around the low 20s over the coming days, the Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a possible 10 to 20 mm of rain and the chance of a thunderstorm on Saturday before easing on Sunday.
Despite some concerns held for the Energy Breakthrough grounds after the pelting Maryborough got this week, Ms Long said camping for primary students has been the only element impacted.
“The camping was the main thing impacted by the rain,” she said.
“We’ve moved the primary students up to The Salvation Army complex to protect the playing surfaces of the Princes Park oval but I haven’t heard any grumblings about that.
“That’s really the only thing that’s changed. The other high school teams are spread around the Energy Breakthrough area.”
One of the most notable changes to the EB this year is the absence of the carnival rides, games and show bag stalls which normally feature alongside the EB competitions.
The decision to scrap the side shows was started last year by the Energy Breakthrough Committee following an extensive engagement process with all stakeholders. It was found that 90 percent of the Occupational Health and Safety issues related to Energy Breakthrough came directly from the carnival, and participants told the committee the side shows were not a good fit with the STEM and educational focus of the event.
Cr Long said despite hearing disappointment from the community over the decision, the response from participating schools has been positive.
“For the participants and the schools it has been overwhelmingly positive,” she said.
“I’ve also heard feedback from local parents whose children are in the event, who are happy with the decision.
“If you’ve looked on social media, locals have been upset with the decision which I understand and respect, however when we had the two-year break from the EB we contacted all the past and present participating schools on what they liked and didn’t like.
“They overwhelmingly told us they’re far too busy to attend the carnival, it doesn’t fit with the program, and they would be most happy if it wasn’t part of the event.
“It’s unfortunate, but there’s so many other things on over the weekend — there’s bands, two outdoor movie nights, games and Scouts climbing wall, it’s not like there’s nothing there.”
Some of the highlights on the track this weekend include the highly anticipated 24-hour Trial will begin at 1 pm, with 77 teams set to compete.
The primary eight-hour endurance trial will also begin tomorrow from 2 pm, with 35 entries.
Alongside the main competitions, the inaugural Energy Expo runs from 10 am to 6 pm today and Saturday. Activities include a climbing wall, robotics display, smoothie bike, live music, arts and crafts, yoga and taekwondo.
An outdoor cinema will show The Rise of Gru this Saturday night from 8 pm.
For the full schedule and local teams see Pages 19-26 of today’s Advertiser, or head online to www.eb.org.au
