Big blow-up fun in bus

A correct estimate would yield a chocolate egg-filled hamper (amount of chocolatey goodness in the hamper was also unconfirmed).

Mount Clear College year 12 VCAL students attempted the bus-filling feat to raise money for this month’s Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, charging a gold coin per guess.

Eight students led the initiative but it took the whole class of 23 students blowing up balloons for about three hours until the bus was near bursting. College staff donated colourful balloons. Gold Bus gifted loan for a bus.

Student Alexandra Hopper said the experiment was more fun than guessing jelly beans in a jar and less expensive than their initial plan for a pizza fundraiser. Plus, they soon perfected the somewhat tricky art of quickly blowing up and tying off balloons.

“When we decided we were going to do this, we had about a week to get organised,” Ms Hopper said.

“The best (balloon) advice we could give is: make sure the balloons are in-date (otherwise they pop straightaway) and don’t blow them up too big.”

A hot school day caused balloons to expand, especially inside the bus, and there were a few festive decoration casualties.

The initiative was part of the VCAL personal development assessment.

Student Jack Jones said the project made for a change of pace in class.

“It has been nice and hands on. We had an air compressor but most we had to blow up ourselves,” Mr Jones said. “It was great to actually have the whole class involved...(the bus) came up really well.”

The bus was filled before lunchtime and attracted plenty of intrigue from junior students, who were the first to test their estimation skills.

Good Friday Appeal is non-denominational and raises funds for equipment, education and research work of the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Still wondering how many balloons students fit in a bus? That is a result you will just have to guess.