Changeable shoe sole wins award
THREE students’ idea for an interchangeable sports shoe sole to reduce landfill has won a major school-based technology and innovation award.
The Sole Solution team, made up of St Mary’s College students Khai Van Heerdon, Lachlan Ramm and Bailey Fry, took out the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards.
The competition, which is run across three months and over three stages, saw six schools from across the region generate ideas and develop them through to the final pitch and presentation.
St Mary’s teacher Wayne Williams, who worked with colleague Peter Horton to assist the groups with their ideas, said the Sole Solution used an interchangeable sole that could be replaced once it was worn out.
“The boys are into sport and they’ll have two to four different shoe pairs during the year,” he said.
“Wouldn’t it be better to have just one pair? When the shoes wear out, it’s normally the sole.
“They came up with an idea involving cleat plates that couldn’t come off from normal movement, then the sole clips onto those.”
The trio’s prize included a trip to Sydney to visit Telstra’s Customer Insight Centre, as well as meeting with entrepreneurs to further develop the concept.
“They’re over the moon – they can’t wait to get down to Sydney,” Mr Williams said.
St Mary’s claimed all three podium positions at the awards, while Fairholme College won the Best Pitch award in the final on Monday night.
Toowoomba Mayor Paul
Antonio praised the innovative ideas displayed by students from across the region.
“The schools generated concepts that ranged from an app promoting indigenous culture and tourism to edgy custom 3D-printed prosthetic limbs,” he said.
“Council partnered with Telstra, TAFE Queensland and the University of Southern Queensland to deliver the awards.
“The Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards builds on our ambitions for the future.”