Kennington Primary School was among the hundreds of teams to arrive at Princes Park today for the first day of competition, presenting to judges their research about transport and sustainability.

Teacher Jason Hague said the experience taught students about the importance of caring for the environment; their vehicle was powered solely by human energy. 

They were also schooled on teamwork and looking after one another, he said. 

A profoundly deaf student and two young people living with diabetes were part of the Kennington team that would race for 16 hours over the weekend. Staff and parents would monitor the students’ wellbeing from the pit lane. 

Also proving the Energy Breakthrough was a opportunity for all was a team of Maryborough Education Centre students living with a disability.

One of their school’s 10 entries in the local race, team members shared presenting, racing and support roles between them, depending on their strengths. 

While some schools were taking part in the tournament for the first time, Maiden Gully primary school continued its two-decade history with the contest in 2017. 

Teacher Russell Marland said his school fundraised $16,000 to field two new trikes in this year’s event. They also brought with them a legion of parent helpers who prepared food for the weekend.

He outlined the time and energy from the school community that went into preparing for the three days of racing.

“Since February, it’s been five hours every Sunday at Tom Flood (Sports Centre),” he said.

"On a Wednesday, we have a couple of hours after school as well.”

While some schools had their sights set on a podium finish, others were more relaxed, with Kennington’s Mr Hague explaining it was the experience that proved most valuable.

School students and their streamlined trikes trek from all over Australia to join the RACV Energy Breakthrough.  

In 2017, the competition welcomed its first team from the Northern Territory. 

Centralian Senior College Clontarf Academy students made the 2100-kilometre journey to Maryborough for the race. 

Another team of Indigenous students, from Walgett Community College High School in northern New South Wales, will also take part in event for the first time.  

Grade 6 student Nicola Cathie lined up for her second consecutive Energy Breakthrough in 2017. 

The Laurimar Primary School student described the atmosphere as “awesome”. 

“It is a bit hard, but all the training [pays] off,” Nicola said of the school’s two-term-long preparation. 

“We push through, have all our friends encouraging us and we do our best.”

Her classmate Ella Southerland was struck by the possibilities of pedal power over fuel consumption. 

“I didn’t actually realise we cold make an awesome vehicle without harming the environment,” she said.