If you walked by Corner Eight of track one at the Energy Breakthrough this year, you would have come across a policeman and a group of young adults, marshalling the infamous ‘crash corner’. These young adults were there day-and-night-and-day for this year’s Breakthrough, and the reason why is pretty special: part community service, part reconnaissance as KidzFlip prepares for a tilt at the Energy Breakthrough in 2019.
Pictured above: KidzFlip volunteer marshals at 4:30am during the 2018 24 Hour Trial at the 2018 Energy Breakthrough.
The KidzFlip Story
Jason Azzopardi, Leading Senior Constable with the Victoria Police, helped launch ‘KidzFlip’ in 2016 with the aim of providing practical projects for youth who were struggling to integrate at school and beginning to come into contact with police.
Fast forward two years and KidzFlip is now well and truly part of the Macedon Ranges community. It is now connected (in positive ways) with the police, community health providers and education providers to give young people access to the resources they need to learn life skills, develop relationships with mentors in the community and engage in activities that they’re passionate about – all whilst helping out others in their community.
Since the beginning, KidzFlip participants have been involved in many projects and events back home in the Macedon Ranges, from working with the local Mens Shed where they build and sell dog beds and park benches to raise funds for various projects, to helping out senior members in the community with technology.
The KidzFlip program has had such an impact that Jason was recently nominated for an Australia Day Victorian Local Hero Award:
The Energy Breakthrough connection
This year, Jason drew together a team of KidzFlip participants to come to Maryborough for the weekend to see what the program is all about, but they would ‘give back’ by volunteering for most of the weekend, too.
Pictured below: KidzFlip volunteer marshals with many of the Carisbrook Lions Club volunteers at the 2018 Energy Breakthrough.
We spoke with Jason at the event this year and found out that the group had more than one reason for coming along to Maryborough this year: They are now planning to enter not one but TWO teams in the 2019 Energy Breakthrough. Preliminary works on getting the group ready will kick into full swing early in the new year, with the search for major sponsors already underway.
One of the KidzFlip participants told us that they’re “looking forward to competing in the event next year and hopefully even taking out a placing!”
Pictured below: KidzFlip volunteer marshals on the ‘honour lap’ at the conclusion of the 2018 24 Hour Trial.
Jefferson Hoober, a long-time Energy Breakthrough volunteer and Chief Marshal, said post-event: “I can’t thank (the KidzFlip team) enough. You were all just an amazing group of people. Bring on EB 2019 as I can’t wait to see you all out of the track or even back helping out with the marshalling.”
Good luck with all the preparation for 2019 KidzFlip and well done to Jason and all of the KidzFlip participants for their volunteering support.
