A novel idea to improve a widely known medical device has received acclaim, after school teams showcased brilliant ideas at an annual competition
A team from Sunshine Coast Grammar School claimed top prize at the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards for their Reel Health project.
Reel Health is a proposed attachable reel system for an electrocardiogram machine (ECG), with 12 individual reels for each lead that all attach to form the unit.
This product would use a spring reel system in order to retract the ECG cords back into the machine with a simple tug.
The team, comprising students Hugo Collins, Lila Collins and Max Mays-Duncan, led by school coordinator Carey Warhurst, were ecstatic with the result.
Second place went to Glasshouse Christian College students Arno Mens and Charlie Bidgood for their Solbot concept, which uses drone technology to dispatch autonomous cleaning robots to rejuvenate the efficiency of solar panels.
A-BITE, created by Dean Ellis, Laurence Mitchell and Jackson Wilson from Chancellor State College, came third for their proposal to use smart technologies to capture under-utilised bioenergy from the Maroochydore Smart City food waste.
The Emerging Entrepreneur Awards went to Suncoast Christian College students Emily Simpson, Isabella Meineke and Mya Horton for their Fape (fake vape) concept that runs off saline solution with 100 per cent chemical-free inhalation.
The Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards are supported by Sunshine Coast Council and Telstra to help local students bring their business ideas to life.
These students, acknowledged at the awards ceremony at TAFE Queensland’s Mooloolaba campus on July 20, will take home a personalised trophy and share in more than $10,000 of prizes for themselves and their schools.
With scoring so close between first and second place winners, Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson awarded both teams from Sunshine Coast Grammar School and Glasshouse Christian College a money-can’t-buy mentoring experience with Garry Swanepoel from the Startup Precinct to help bring their ideas to market.
Mr Jamieson, who hosted the awards ceremony and served on the judging panel, said the quality of ideas presented were exceptional.
“The pitches delivered were truly outstanding and reassured me that our future looks incredibly bright with these talented young people leading the way,” he said.
“This awards program aims to foster opportunities for our young people, and we are thrilled to help them potentially transform their winning ideas into a commercial reality.
“Well done to all our finalists and the winning teams. This is just the start of countless opportunities for you as future leaders of our Sunshine Coast.”
Telstra regional engagement manager for South-East Queensland Matthew Thornton said he was delighted to partner with Sunshine Coast Council to deliver the awards.
“The Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards 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,” Mr Thornton said.
“By investing in the next generation and providing a platform for their talents to flourish, we are further solidifying the Sunshine Coast as a regional hub for ground-breaking ideas.
“It’s so impressive to see the calibre of ideas come to life on stage, and all of the finalist teams should feel incredibly proud of themselves.”
Sunshine Coast Council partnered with Telstra and Study Sunshine Coast to deliver the awards exclusively to high schools within the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area.
Finalists
Burnside State High School
- Yabbieponics: Repurposing intermediate bulk containers to make fish tanks that can house and grow fish and crustaceans that feed the plants.
Caloundra State High School
- Accessible Sunshine Coast: A website designed to show accessibility in Caloundra for tourists, visitors and locals, including areas that are bad for sensory sensitivities.
Chancellor State College
- A-BITE: An improved renewable energy cycle using smart technologies to innovate the capture of under-utilised bioenergy from the Maroochydore Smart City food waste.
Glasshouse Christian College
- Solbot: Solbot uses drone technology to dispatch autonomous cleaning robots to rejuvenate the efficiency of solar panels.
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
- MyPark Finder: An app that can be downloaded on all mobile phones which assists people in locating car parks.
Mountain Creek State High School
- Forever Alive: A smart, self-watering pot plant system to prevent plants dying from incorrect watering.
Suncoast Christian College
- Send It Siren: A bicycle alarm to detect movement and sound an alarm to scare thieves while also alerting the owner.
- Sunny Stations: Solar powered electric scooter charging stations in the shape of a palm tree.
- The Fape: A fake vape that runs off saline solution with 100% chemical free inhalation.
Sunshine Coast Grammar
- Handi-Shoppa: An accessible shopping cart designed to assist disabled and elderly people.
- JobsLaunch: A job-seeking app designed specifically for teenagers on the Sunshine Coast.
- MelodyMatch: A song recommendation algorithm to change how we listen to and experience music.
- Reel Health: An attachable reel system for a 12-lead ECG machine.
Scroll down to SUBSCRIBE for our FREE news feed, direct to your inbox daily.
