Supercharged support for Mackay students
31 Oct 2019
A group of Mackay students with a thirst for life in the fast lane are among 40 community initiatives to share in $200,000 of support from North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP).
Five Mackay Holy Spirit College teams travelled south to Brisbane this week to compete in the F1 in Schools State Championship at Queensland University of Technology.
F1 in Schools is an international competition raising the awareness of STEM - Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Mackay Holy Spirit College are among 17,000 schools from 44 nations to take on the challenge to build their own CO2-powered F1 car.
CEO Nicolas Fertin said NQBP is proud to support the next generation in science and technology.
“This initiative provides an exciting and valuable learning environment for students to learn about careers in engineering, science, marketing and technology and the sport of Formula 1,” he said.
Holy Spirit College Teacher Carol-Anne Durkin said it was the fourth time the school had competed at F1 in Schools and students were represented in three categories.
“Students are exposed to a range of valuable skills which they will take with them throughout their development. The judging criteria covers sponsorship raising, marketing and brand and engineering to make these cars travel along a 20m track as fast as possible,” Mrs Durkin said.
Mrs Durkin said the students competing in the Pro and Development classes had even designed their own websites, social media accounts and trade stands. “This allows the students to acknowledge the support that we have from local businesses including NQBP which has helped reduce the cost of travel for all students competing here over the three days.”
Holy Spirit College were a successful applicant of NQBP’s 2019-20 Sponsorship and Donations grants and Mr Fertin said there was an overwhelming response with applications. Ten Schools also received EcoPorts grants whereby $1,000 is awarded towards grassroots environmental projects.
“We are proud to support numerous regional events, initiatives and groups,” Mr Fertin said.
“These varied initiatives bring numerous benefits to our communities including health and well-being, environment, regional sustainability, culture and community and education and training.”
Among the other successful grant recipients were The Mackay Marina Run, Bowen Superboats, Napranum AFL Cluster Carnival and Sarina Landcare Catchment Management.
NQBP 2019-20 Sponsorship and Donation recipients:
2019 Nude Lunch in support of Ovarian cancer research | Weipa Emergency Services Ball |
Mackay North State School Spring Fair | Pioneer Maritime Club - Annual Golf Day |
Cocktails in the Country | Eimeo Surf LifeSaving Club - Inflatable Raft Race Day |
Sarina Ute Muster | Resource Industry Network |
Bowen Indigenous Rugby League team | Rumble on the Reef |
Bowen Seagulls U9s | Alligator Creek - Learn to Swim Program |
Sarina Life Saving Club - Cruisin the Coast | PIANC Australia (Encarta) Coasts and Ports Conference |
Pledge towards new vessel for Bowen VMR | Sarina State High School - High School Awards |
Dymocks Children’s Charities | Mapoon 8HB Brother Rugby Team |
Upgrade of lighting for Weipa Community Care | Holy Spirit College - Qld State Final of Formula 1 |
Mackay Mater Hospital | Mackay Tourism - Annual Mackay Region Tourism Awards |
Napranum AFL Cluster Carnival | Mackay Marina Run |
Conquer the Corrugations | RIN Conference |
Artspace Mackay Foundation - Summer Holiday Drop in Activities Program | Bowen Superboats |
Sarina Landcare Catchment Management | Port Denison - Sail Bowen Regatta |
Eco Ports Grant recipients:
Farleigh State School - Multi-functional Garden Space |
Queens Beach State School - Home-grown veggies for Bowen show |
St Francis Xavier Kindergarten - Chicken Coop and Native Beehive |
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School - Kitchen Garden/Chicken Run |
Mackay North State School – Refurbishment of old veggie garden |
Alligator Creek State School - Plant saplings, trees and native grass |
Pioneer State High School Remove - Pest plant Salvinia from pond |
Whitsunday Anglican School - Veggie garden and fruit orchard |
Carlisle Adventist Christian College Drone – Drone survey health of local reefs |
Mackay State High School – Rejuvenation of soil/worm farm |
North Queensland Bulk Ports contact:
Tom Davis | Digital Content Editor
(07) 3011 7972 | tdavis@nqbp.com.au