LAST week, Rotary clubs of Dubbo and district conducted the Science and Engineering Challenge in Dubbo. The Challenge has been run in Dubbo every year for 20 years, with 2020 the only exception. Students were excited to have it back again.
About 270 secondary students competed on Tuesday or Wednesday, with flood waters keeping some away.
Schools from as far away as Forbes, Mudgee, Coonamble and Tottenham sent teams to compete.
The winning team on Tuesday was from the Dubbo Christian School, and on Wednesday the combined team from Gulgong High School and St Matthews Central
School, Mudgee were the winners.
On Thursday and Friday about 370 primary school students from 18 schools competed.
On Thursday the winners were St Mary’s Central School, Wellington, and on Friday the combined team from Warren Central School and Central West Leadership Academy won.
Thanks to the University of Newcastle for running the Challenge again this year, to all our local business sponsors and Rotary clubs, and to all the people who volunteered to run the activities each day.
Rotary clubs continue to support the Challenge to give country students opportunities to experience the fun and challenge of tasks involving science and engineering skills.
Rotary’s Science Challenge committee members Lyn Smith and Lawrie Donoghue with sponsors ASM (Australian Strategic Minerals) representatives Mike Sutherland and Natalie Chapman. Natalie was a keynote speaker.
Supporters Margaret Donoghue and Maureen Murray-wilcox with Rotarians Ray Brooks and Lawrie Donoghue served lunch to the hungry hordes, including Matt from the University of Newcastle Science Challenge team.
Representative of inland Rail, one of the sponsors of the Challenge, presented the trophy on Wednesday to the combined team from Gulgong High School and St Matthews Central School, Mudgee.
Bert Mclellan, of Rotary Club of Dubbo West, presented the winners’ trophy on Tuesday to the team from Dubbo Christian School.
Rotarians Lawrie Donoghue and Tony Norman with sponsor representatives Nicole Crowe and Rachel Thomas from Maverick Biomaterials.
Left: Harrison, Lawrie Donoghue, Finn, Jack.
Far left: Eli, Fred Griffiths, David Tripet and Riley.
The winning team on Tuesday was from the Dubbo Christian School.
Mike Sutherland, Natalie Chapman and Susie Rowley.
Above: Isaac, Aiden, Miss Hoy, Kyzack and Ry.
Brianna, Kate, Miss Hoy, Madison and Abbey.
Lyn Smith, Charlotte, Jess, Siobhan and Abby Hodges (University of Newcastle)
Kate, Bella, Mr Connors, Tony Newman, Heidi and Payton.
Oli, Kelsey, Doug Elliott, Natteisha and Olivia.