Our FIRST Lego League Team Honoured for World-Class Achievement

Each team member was awarded a medallion from the Department of Education, acknowledging their exceptional contribution in representing the nation and public education on the world stage. This recognition highlights their success and reflects the values of innovation, dedication, and excellence in learning.

Each medallion was inscribed;
Baked Pickles
Representing NSW
Department of Education on the World Stage
'Student Name'
2025

"I rise to recognise an incredibly skilled group of young people with a very unlikely name, The Baked Pickles! These inspiring students from Port Macquarie-Hastings Secondary College (Port Macquarie Campus) have reached the World Youth LEGO League competition in Texas, USA. The team is comprised of 8 students: Isaac Barry, Rex Reeve, Oskar Morris, Oscar Medcalf, Xavier Kelly-Walsh, Tom, Isaac Lavis and Frida Aaso, all skilfully mentored by science, technology, engineering and mathematics [STEM] teachers, Ryland O'Connell and Warren Reynolds.

I congratulate The Baked Pickles, who late last year defeated 70 teams from schools across Australia, to qualify to compete against more than 160 of the world's best. It is a nerve-racking and exciting time, but the students have invested hundreds of hours fine-tuning their designs and coding to prepare for this challenge. Teams rely on problem solving and collaboration to tackle complex tasks within a set time. They must also present a real-world application. In this instance, they have developed a purpose-built device for boats which detects and responds when a person falls overboard, by releasing a life jacket and emergency beacon. May all your hard work bring richly deserved results."

A special highlight of the assembly was a Q&A session between Deputy Principal Mr Rob Lyttle and team member Oskar Morris, who spoke about the team’s journey to the top and the unforgettable experience of competing in Houston. Their insights offered a behind-the-scenes look at the hard work, collaboration, and excitement that went into representing Australia on the world stage.

The audience also enjoyed a visual showcase of the team’s time in Texas, with images highlighting key moments from the trip, along with a video clip of The Baked Pickles’ national feature on 'Behind the News' (BTN).

We extend our sincere gratitude to The Hon. Robert Dwyer MP for joining us and recognising our students' achievements in such a meaningful way.

Congratulations once again to The Baked Pickles. You have represented Hastings Secondary College and the nation with pride and earned your place in history.