Over 12 months on from Damascus College's successful Energy Breakthrough campaign and their 'Rode RAGE' ride from Sydney to Ballarat, the crew is preparing for an even bigger challenge: Darwin to Melbourne.

Appropriately titled: 'Outback Rode RAGE', they're embarking on a massive 3,500 km journey and inviting you along for the ride via their webcast.

R.A.G.E stands for "Ride Against Greenhouse Emissions" and aims to show how young Australians are standing up against climate change and to pave the way for more sustainable transport in the future.

Adimov Dreaming is on the Road!

We reported on the Damascus College's plans in our August Newsletter, but wanted to update the Energy Breakthrough community as they now have their splendid looking new vehicle, titled 'Adimov Dreaming', on the road for testing and were out and about when the Herald Sun Tour came to town.

"The team was very pleased with the vehicle cruising comfortably at 60-70 kph on the flat and reaching 90kph (the team's self imposed speed limit) on a gentle downhill stretch." Team Manager Tony Davidson said in an email to Rode RAGE supporters.

"A few more adjustments this week and then we will be up and down the Western Freeway over the next few weekends, putting the final touches on the long and arduous training regimen the riders have been undergoing."

Damascus: Hybrid winners in 2008

At last year's Energy Breakthrough, Damascus' Hybrid team Cookie Monster held off local challenger 'Black Magic' to take their first overall trial win. It was a long standing goal and while they'd love to go back-to-back this November, they are going behind the street circuits of Maryborough to the open roads of the outback.

Is the time right?

Will heading to Darwin the day after Maryborough affect their performance in Maryborough? Why pick the week after the Breakthrough anyway?

"It's a bit crazy, but we'll have a couple of days in Darwin to acclimatise, It fits in perfectly for our best pedallers and techies, it's after exams and before people head away for the end of the year.'

United Nations Climate Negotiations
It's also on the doorstep of the United Nations Climate Negotiations in Copenhagen in December.

At those talks the world's leaders will be meeting to set global targets for carbon emission. (More about the UN talks here - http:// en.cop15.dk/)

The Damascus crew knows that riding such a huge distance and raising awareness is part of the action needed to stop climate change.

Right: Last year on their Rode Rage quest, they met with Federal Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett in Canberra

Follow them in action

You can log on to the webcast at www.roderage.com.au during the ride, watch Adimov Dreaming in action, send messages of encouragement and maybe make a small donation to their nominated charities: World Vision & the Alternative Technology Association.

"Old Collegians Aaron Rivett and Matt Hill have (with the great assistance of ASTA, B&D Technologies and the City of Ballarat) voluntarily created a world class communications set up to facilitate continuous interaction between the team and you as they travel through the great Australian Outback." Tony tells us. We think this is a great example of past Energy Breakthrough participants keeping involved with their schools.

Donate to support World Vision and the Alternative Technology Association

Damascus are also aiming to raise funds for sustainable energy and food programs to assist our global neighbours who do not have the same opportunities that we do. They also want to draw the links between climate change and extreme poverty.

By donating to the Outback Rode RAGE appeal, you'll be supporting the work of World Vision and the Alternative Technology Association (ATA).

Every $39 means a starving family will receive an ongoing source of food and income and need never know such extreme poverty again thanks to World Vision.

In Timor, volunteers from the ATA completed the installation of 21 solar power systems in Schools, Clinics and Community Centres. ATA Volunteers travelled the length and breadth of Timor, working in 10 of Timor's 13 Districts. This was a massive commitment by the Australian volunteers and they want to do more.

The vehicle and team will be officially launched in Ballarat on November 2, 2009.

Links:

To find out more about the Outback Rode RAGE or to donate, head to their website at http://www.roderage.com.au

Copenhagen Climate Negotiations - http:// en.cop15.dk

World Vision - http://www.worldvision.com.au

Alternative Technology Association - http://www.ata.org.au/