Super students shine at awards

Moreton Bay’s next generation of bright sparks have been recognised at this year’s Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards.

Held biennially, the awards challenge City of Moreton Bay secondary school students to find new technology or fresh and creative use of existing technology.

The Lakes College Year 10 student Isla Baines impressed judges and clinched first place with her ‘Basically Bovine Irrigation’ concept.

Using an app and prototype water sensor, it supports monitoring and targeted watering of grounds such as gardens, golf courses and farmland.

Mayor Peter Flannery said he was “thrilled” to see the City’s brightest students delivering innovative solutions to problems affecting people.

“Their passion, enthusiasm and ability to think outside the box is exactly the approach we will need as we transform into one of Australia’s fastest-growing innovation ecosystems with our knowledge-based economy,” he said.

Second place went to Southern Cross Catholic College’s ‘Produce Paladins’ team of Diaz Breen, Jake Nutley and Ronan O’Carroll.

Their DigiFridge app helps fight food waste by tracking expiry dates on food, help generate recipes with existing products and track grocery prices at supermarkets.

‘Team Curiositree’, represented by St Columban’s College student Carys Leota, took third with SolarSeat, a solar-charged addition to bus stops and public seats for charging devices.

Year 9 Bray Park State High School students Hannah Lowe and Pia Flynn won the Emerging Entrepreneur with ‘Query’ with an AI assistant app promoting critical thinking and learning.

Telstra Regional Manager for South East Queensland Matthew Thornton said he was delighted to partner with the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards.

“It is a fantastic program, particularly the chance for the winning teams to collaborate with industry mentors to grow and expand their creative concept or idea,” he said.

Winners share in more than $12,000 in prizes, including JB Hi-Fi gift vouchers.

First place gets a tour of Telstra’s 5G Centre and BOP Industries half day workshop. Second a STEMPunks one-day Innovation Program session and third a Future Anything Workshop.

The Emerging Entrepreneur received two Future Anything 1:1 Online Mentoring Sessions.

Open to City of Moreton Bay high school students as individuals or teams from Years 9 to 12, this year saw 76 students across 34 teams submit initial ideas.

Successful entries progressed to phase two, where 70 students from 31 teams workshopped concepts with leading industry mentors before 10 finalists and the winners were selected.

Since 2023, more than 320 students from local secondary schools have been in the MTIA program, including 130 in this year’s inaugural Big Ideas Challenge for Moreton Bay.

The challenge day in March invited schools to engage in a design sprint process to create innovative ideas and prepare them for the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards.