Parade College has emerged the victorious school in today’s 2006 Public Transport Challenge.
Parade College’s winning strategy included visits to checkpoints including The Essendon Football Club Hall of Fame, Coburg Leisure Centre and Williamstown Botanic Gardens earning them the most points overall.
Sixteen teams from 15 schools set off from the Melbourne Town Hall at 10am this morning, with five hours to visit as many checkpoints as possible. Luna Park, Scienceworks, and CERES Community
Environment Park in Brunswick were just some of the destinations seized upon in their race against the clock.
Environment Victoria president Russell Fisher said the event was held alongside World Environment Day to offer students an environmentally friendly way to get around the city.
“World Environment Day on 5 June is an opportunity for us all to celebrate the importance of protecting the environment, that includes the urban environment that we live, work and play in on a daily basis. We can all make changes to lessen our impact – be it by using our cars less, saving water or recycling.”
Metlink CEO Bernie Carolan said the 2006 Challenge was a huge success and it was great to see the student’s confidence when using the system.
“The Challenge not only demonstrates how accessible Melbourne is using public transport, it also builds students’ confidence in using trains, trams and buses to get around,” he said.
Mr Carolan said Metlink’s aim was that the Public Transport Challenge would encourage young people to get into the habit of catching public transport and those habits would continue later in life.
Claiming Second place in the Challenge was Balwyn High, closely followed by Wantirna High who claimed third place.
Final Results: 2006 Public Transport Challenge
1st Place Parade College’s Team Raider with 830 Points
2nd Place Balwyn High’s XEDC Team with 720 Points
3rd Place Wantirna High’s JJJ’s Team with 700 Points
The Winning teams will walk away with great prizes including training sessions with Circus Oz ; a class visit to the Victorian Institute of Sport; and sports equipment worth $250.
In total, more than 230 students from 36 schools took part in this year’s event.