On Friday 15th November, Traralgon South Primary School was abuzz with excitement as students, families, and the wider community welcomed students from Toongabbie Primary School for their annual billy cart race. The event, proudly sponsored by the Latrobe Health Assembly, celebrated hands-on learning, intergenerational collaboration, and the spirit of community connectedness.
In the lead-up to the race, students worked closely with members of the Traralgon South Men’s Shed and Toongabbie Men’s Shed to design, build, and decorate their billy carts. This collaboration fostered valuable intergenerational connections, as the Men’s Shed volunteers shared their knowledge and skills with the younger generation. The students, in turn, brought creativity and enthusiasm to the project, showcasing teamwork and innovative design thinking.
The billy cart project offered a hands-on learning experience that extended beyond the classroom. Students applied principles of design, engineering, and problem-solving to bring their ideas to life. The process not only sparked curiosity but also instilled a sense of pride and accomplishment in their creations.
The event highlighted the importance of community collaboration, with parents, teachers, and local volunteers rallying together to support the students’ efforts. From cheering along the racetrack to sharing race times over a community barbecue, the race day reinforced the strong bonds that make Traralgon South and Toongabbie thriving and connected communities.
As the event sponsor, the Latrobe Health Assembly was delighted to support this initiative, seeing the joy on the students’ faces and the camaraderie among participants reaffirmed the importance of investing in local projects that bring people together.
Latrobe Health Assembly Board member, Ange Gordon summed up the event stating that “the Billy Cart Race is more than just a fun day for the students, it’s a celebration of learning, community, and the relationships that strengthen our regional towns. Supporting events such as this help bring about meaningful connections within townships and is of course great fun to be a part of.”
The race day concluded with enthusiastic cheers, proud smiles, and plenty of laughter as students raced their colourful creations to the finish line. Awards were presented for the fastest racers, the most creative decoration, and the best team costume, ensuring that every participant was celebrated for their efforts.
Traralgon South Primary School Principal, Joel Blythman said “we are incredibly grateful for the support of both the Traralgon South and Toongabbie Men’s Shed, alongside event sponsorship from the Latrobe Health Assembly, that enabled this annual event to again come to life. The laughter, fun, and connections with the wider community highlight the importance of a project such as this, and as a further measure of success, it has been lovely watching our students continue to use their Billy Carts around the Traralgon South township since the derby concluded.”
Alison Stewart, Principal of Toongabbie Primary School added “this project has been a highlight of the Grade 5/6 year and a wonderful opportunity for the community and the school to work closely together. The cart building night when the children attended the Men’s Shed along with their parents was a joy to see. Everyone, having a go at using the tools, reading the instructions and seeking clarification as needed was fabulous. Our children did really well bringing home several of the prizes on the day of the derby. A big thanks to the Traralgon South Men’s Shed for bringing the initiative to Toongabbie and the Traralgon South Primary School for hosting the derby. The children are already planning their designs for next year.”
This year’s Billy Cart Race was a shining example of how collaboration, creativity, and connection can create lasting memories and inspire future generations.
Brian Jenkins, President of the Traralgon South Men’s Shed the club’s involvement “this annual event is highly anticipated by our Men’s Shed members as it brings our community together. The excitement on the students faces during build night and race day, when they unveil their decorated carts and costumes, is truly rewarding. We are grateful for the support from both the school and the broader community. With the collaboration of Latrobe Health Assembly and Toongabbie, we are already planning for an even bigger event next year. Hearing younger students eagerly express their excitement for their turn on race day is especially thrilling.
