While many schools and colleges will have finished organising their 2005 subject and course offerings and indeed various curriculum options, a lot don’t really set them in concrete until the second or third week of the new year – ie, right about now!

We’re hoping that this feature might prompt or shape some of the choices schools and colleges make – as in, "we could do that too!" And even if it is too late for this semester or even this year, maybe we might be able to "sow the seeds" for 2006.

OK, enough preamble: let’s go back to where this all started: the PICAXE fair – and where we went from there.

In the lead-up to the PICAXE fair, PICAXE enthusiasts and groups were invited to bring their projects and/or designs along for all to see and evaluate – including the "father" of the PICAXE, Clive Seager, Technical Director of Revolution Electronics (UK).

Clive made the trip to Australia specifically for the PICAXE fair and to further preach the PICAXE gospel.

Incidentally, it was acknowledged at the fair that Australia has probably the highest per-capita interests and usages of PICAXEs in the world.

That’s due in no small part to the infectious enthusiasm of SILICON CHIP’s regular contributor, Stan Swan and his incredibly popular PICAXE column in the magazine.

If Clive Seager is the father of the PICAXE, Stan Swan must be regarded as Professor PICAXE in this part of the world.

You might expect that Stan has a financial interest in promoting the PICAXE – the truth is, Stan is another educator: a lecturer at Massey University in Wellington, NZ and his interest stems (at least in part) from getting his students as keen about this technology as he is. (As well as in the pages of SILICON CHIP you’ll find Stan on his website, www.picaxe.orcon.net.nz).

Back, though, to the PICAXE fair: IT students from East Hills Girls Technology High School entered their PICAXE project and were awarded first prize for their efforts.

With teachers Steve Sharp (left) and Anthony Rotondo, the girls from East Hills Girls Technology High School are holding their pride and joy, along with the extensive documentation they prepared for it. Pictured are Samantha, Alisha, Fiona, Eleanor, Kim-Anh, Jessica and (back row) Victoria and Sarah.