Oldmeldrum Rotary judged and presented the prizes at the Technology challenge held in Meldrum Academy on Friday 23rd June 2006.

Ten teams from the associated primary schools took part: Culter Cullen, Rayne North, Methlick, Tarves, Old Rayne, Meldrum, Logie Durno, Barthol Chapel, Rothienorman, and Newmachar . These pupils following in the lead of Brunel & Edison pitted their engineering wits against each other.

The task was to design, build and test a "lander vehicle" to safely land Mr Raw Egg on the surface of Mars, (or the assembly hall floor). The teams set to work building their respective machines with all the vigour, enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail and after a mornings work were ready, with padded seats, shock absorber mechanisms, parachutes and all the rest. As with all research and development type engineering some crashed and burned on take-off (or landing) and some performed successfully, but all were absolutely sterling efforts of design, presentation and in particular innovation. The end products were judged for Costs, Presentation, Function, Survivability, Aesthetics and Team Working which means, as in real life, there is more to this than just building a machine that works.

Based on these criteria the winners were Tarves (1st), Old Rayne (2nd), and Meldrum (3rd). In summary another rewarding event that will hopefully encourage/inspire a few to pursue a career in Engineering.