After 11 consecutive years of entering the Energy Breakthrough Human Powered Vehicle race, Garfield Primary School has placed for the first time, entering two teams that came second and fourth.

The Garfield Flyers raced in an 18- school division at Maryborough last month in a HPV for 14 hours and completed 360 kilometres during the event, swapping racers every two hours after about eight laps.

The competition is divided into schools with more than 200 students and schools with less than 200. Garfield competed in the latter category.

The experience was a curriculum driver for Garfield, encouraging students to learn about the different aspects of the race taking in areas of English, maths, art, physical education and

science.

Each team made a presentation which included fundraising, history, fitness, healthy eating and renewable energy.

With more than 20 participants, the team at Garfield had 16 athletes with the girls to boys ratio even and 13 students were a part of the pit crew assisting the racers to stay hydrated, safe and comfortable while completing laps of the 1.15 kilometre bitumen circuit.

The vehicles were decorated by the students with children drawing their ideas and later voting on the theme they would like. The first group, the ‘Dream Team’ was decorated as a rocket with flames and stars and the second, the ‘Stars’ was decorated as a dragon.

Assistant principal Stephan Stewart was full of praise not only for the students, but also the parents involved. “The parental involvement here is fantastic. They do a wonderful job supporting the kids and they ensure everything runs like clockwork. Their support and the way they go about it is first rate”.

Mr Stewart also praised the support of the Bunyip Community Bank in granting funds for the school’s second vehicle this year.

The team trained all year, running laps in the morning and practising riding their vehicles at school as well as  Gumbuya Park to prepare themselves for the challenge.

Avoca Primary School, winners for the second year in a row, just beat the Garfield Flyers in a tight race. The hard work finally paid off as the number one team, ‘Dream Team’ placed second and the ‘Stars’ came fourth. For placing second, the team at Garfield was presented with medals and a trophy which is now proudly displayed in the main office.

Published in the Warragul & Drouin Gazette, December 16, 2014