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1 May 2018

A group of Geelong students will share their plan for Point Henry’s former Alcoa site with the world when they go to Hungary to compete in an international design competition next month.

The seven students were pupils at , Newcomb, last year when they entered the state division of the First Lego League Competition and progressed to the nationals.

Their plan to turn the Point Henry site into a carbon ­emission-free Gardens of Change won them the Australian Inspiration prize and a trip to the international awards in Hungary.

The competition tests the pupils on their ability to think critically and apply maths and science skills.

While the students, many who are now in high school, have proved their ability they were faced with another challenge — to raise $40,000 to fully fund a trip to Hungary.

Teacher Aisha Kristiansen said students had been tin rattling, selling raffle tickets and manning drinks stands to raise the money. The group’s trip fund was boosted by sponsors and community members who donated to the school’s GoFundMe page.

Ms Kristiansen said the students would go to Singapore on May 6 to visit the Super Trees, which inspired their project, and then fly to Hungary for the four-day competition against 72 other teams.

'The biggest challenge the students now face is that many of the teams have students who are 15, 16, and 17 years old. They are one of the youngest teams,' she said.

The students — Zali Mew, James Sells, Makaira Le, Joshua Walpole, Will Scott, Jack Bond and Jessica Sullivan — will be away for two weeks.

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