By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Lakeside Bendigo Bank branch has combined with Lakeside College to reinforce the environmental sustainability message.
Recently, the bank held an exchange program – swapping old halogen bulbs for new environmentally-friendly LED lights – and for every registration the school made through the branch, an electrician went out and changed over the bulbs. For every bulb that was changed, the school received a dollar from the bank.
“Because it’s an environmentally-friendly program, we had to align it with something similar at the school, something that was going to help with the environment,” said Lakeside Bendigo Bank branch manager Campbell Connell.
“We opted for the HPV because it’s powered by the human body.”
The bank presented the school’s HPV (Human Powered Vehicle) team with a cheque for $250.
Each November, the school has a presence at the 24-hour HPV race in Maryborough and each participating team has to raise funds to maintain its own vehicles.
The Lakeside team is comprised of about 20 students across the two vehicles. Through the event they took turns behind the wheel, preparing food, and encouraging their team mates.
It’s an exercise in mental and physical toughness, and a great sense of camaraderie and mateship is built among the students involved.
