This is not the column I had originally intended, however last week I attended the Energy Breakthrough as a volunteer judge. As I walked to Princes Park the surrounding streets were packed with cars, and on arrival the environs were teeming with people, everyone smiling and happy. I thought 'how good is it to have the event back following the distressing years of Covid'.
Once again Princes Park was transformed into a living, active village incorporating multiple racetracks to accommodate this remarkable event hosted in Maryborough for 30 years. The economic benefit to our community has been enormous, but to me this is secondary to the lifelong experience it has given to thousands of young people over the years. We judges had the pleasure to adjudicate the Display and Presentation section, where teams give a prepared 20-minute talk on issues such as vehicle design, technology and the importance of nutrition and climate.
To me the most memorable and impressive aspect was the quality of the presentations. Listening to these primary and secondary students talk with such confidence and without fear is so impressive. Every day in our newspapers we read about youth gangs, stealing cars, breaking into homes, assaulting individuals, it would be very easy to question just what our future holds! I can honestly say that each day, as I walked back to my car I felt positively elated. If I harboured any doubts about the future, these have been completely dispelled, our future is in very safe hands and full of promise.
