A small planning committee holds open meetings in Maryborough throughout the year to plan and discuss all aspects of the event, covering everything from proposed rule changes to security, camping and waste management.  

Feedback:
The committee warmly welcomes constructive feedback from students, teachers, parents and spectators. This can be directed to the Help Desk or to find out when the next Planning Committee meeting will be held, keep an eye on the News page.

Meet the organisers:

John has been involved in the RACV Energy Breakthrough since before day one - when schools from the Mallee region were heading to the South Australian Pedal Prix in 1990. He was and still is Event Co-ordinator on behalf of the County Education Project and oversaw the planning and management of the first Energy Breakthrough in 1991, when 33 entries from 21 schools participated. John has been instrumental in the 10-fold expansion of the event over the past 15 years, finding new ways for more students to become involved and then taking the leaps of faith required to implement changes.

John Stafford has worked in the areas of youth, community development and education & training for over twenty years. He has a strong commitment to young people and community life and a desire to make a difference to the lives of young people, families and the community in general. He believes that schools and training providers have a most profound influence on the lives of young people.

Along with the RACV Energy Breakthrough, he has been involved with the Australian Youth Research Centre at the University of Melbourne, the AIS Golf Program, VICFIT, Australian YMCA and the Victorian Duke of Edinburgh Awards. He has also established and successfully operates the family partnership, JLS & Associates, which operates from Elsternwick in Melbourne.

As well as developing RACV's new vehicle road test program and product testing facilities, Ernest has headed RACV's involvement in the RACV Energy Breakthrough since 1992 - the second year of the event. Ernest is Chief Judge of Australia's Best Cars Competition and fittingly also heads up the Rules and Specifications division of the Energy Breakthrough.

Ernest has worked in the automotive industry for 34 years, starting with a four-year automotive mechanic apprenticeship with Mazda Australia and later completing the A grade certificate in Automotive Engineering. Ernest has a broad experience of the industry, working for two years at Holden's racing department, five years with Calder Sports Cars importing and distributing Morgan and TVR sports cars, two years self employed in a repair and restoration workshop and 21 years with the RACV.

Ernest started with RACV in 1982 as a vehicle inspector and moved quickly to the product testing area under the direction of the Chief Engineer. A keen interest in automotive history has seen Ernest working with RACV's heritage committee and even open his own museum.

Martin commenced involvement with the Energy Breakthrough in 1996 and hasn't looked back since.

As recreation manager for the Central Goldfields Shire Council, Martin is the key local man for planning, development and management of the shire’s major sport and recreation events, including the Central Goldfields Enduro Triathlon, VCA Country Cricket Matches, Queens Baton Relay, and The Great Victorian Bike Ride. He is also an avid cricket player and fisherman.

As a Maryborough resident and ex-teacher, Geoff has had a long term interest and involvement in the RACV Energy Breakthrough in various roles. 

From judging Display & Presentation for HPVs in the very first Breakthrough, to having two daughters riding for Maryborough schools in both Primary and Secondary to doing his share of marshal as a hockey player with the local association on ‘Safeway Corner’ Geoff has covered almost every aspect of the event. During his time as a teacher at Maryborough Regional College, he also supported the college teams with many hours in pit lane massaging legs of tired riders.

After retiring from teaching in 2002, Geoff was able to go along to Local Planning Committee meetings and hence start an involvement in the administration of the Energy Breakthrough where skills picked up in teaching and, in his case, 13 years of sport coordination, were put to good use.  In 2003 he started in a part-time position with the Central Goldfields Shire Council as an assistant to Martin Mark.. In this role he has gained an insight into the week-by-week organisation necessary for the successful running of the Breakthrough. 

During the event, Geoff is the RACV Track Manager, with a role to see that everything that happens on the RACV Track is properly set up, running smoothly and occurring on time.  For the past 2 – 3 years he has also been the editor of the event newsletter which is published three times a year and is now sent electronically to all schools involved.

Norm is often referred to as a 'pinnacle of the Maryborough community'. He was involved in the initial process of securing the Energy Breakthrough to Maryborough and continues his work at organising and managing the Primary school teams camping on Princes Park oval each year. Norm is an excellent ambassador for Maryborough and also spends time organising the town's New Years Eve Festivities.

Phil Brown, has headed up the Pushcarts division of the Energy Breakthrough with Peter Gersden for a number of years and always approaches the event focused on learning, challenging the kids and having fun. Blessed with a generous sense of humour, Phil manages to assemble, inform and excite over 500 primary school kids involved in the pushcart events each November.

As Chief Executive Officer of the Country Education Project (CEP), Phil travels around the state from his base in Wangaratta promoting and improving the learning opportunities and experiences for students in rural areas. For more information on the CEP, check out the website at www.cep.org.au