Recycled bike program servicing students

YOUNG learners at Woodmans Hill Secondary College have been spending the past school term getting to know the ins and outs of bicycle maintenance thanks to a program aimed at keeping used bikes out of landfill.

The school is one of the latest to undertake the ReCranked in Schools initiative, which brings the Wendouree-based program to the institution each week.

“This is something we’ve been looking at for a while now to re-engage students,” said Woodmans Hill head of junior school Jocelyn Gepp.

“It gives them something to work on, and gives them the opportunities to take bikes home at the end or put back into the community while upskilling them in something that’s a little bit different and outside of the classroom.”

Twelve students ranging from year 7 to year 10 have been taking part in the program for about a month.

Two bicycles have so far been repaired and given to students through the initiative, with a further 10 to 15 donated by the community and ready to be reworked.

“We’ve had to start turning people away,” Ms Gepp said.

“There’s been lots of kids that have come up and said they want to take part in the program next term so with the success we’ve had, we’ll definitely try to continue into the next term and beyond.

“It’s a great opportunity and outlet for our students.”

The ReCranked in Schools program was established eight years ago and is also being delivered at Berry Street School, Forest Street Primary School, Indie College, and more.

ReCranked in Schools coordinator Tom Hubert is one of two people leading the program each week at Woodmans Hill and said the school-based initiative is only getting more popular.

“We’re generally running at seven schools each term, and we’ve been travelling far and wide,” he said.

“I’ve been down to Bacchus Marsh Primary School and we’ve had requests from as far afield as Warrnambool.

“There’s also a literacy and numeracy component to this. We’ll get them to write down makes and models and estimate the costings around the things they’re working on.”

It’s estimated the ReCranked program overall has recycled more than 3000 bikes since its launch in 2013 by Y Ballarat and City of Ballarat.