Young students develop low fat sausage using lupin!

21 September 2006

Do you ever wonder if sausages are healthy? Well two Western Australia boys didn’t just wonder they decided to create their own healthy low fat, high protein sausages with the prototypes available to taste on 22 September.

Two bright students David Lewis and Joel Innes from the WA College of Agriculture - Cunderdin, traveled to Canberra to launch their idea of a low fat sausage at the Questacon Smart Moves Invention Convention.

Joel and David were among 30 secondary students from around Australia selected to attend the convention from 9 to 15 July. Their proposal was to make a high protein, low fat sausage using lupin meal as one of the major ingredients.

The Convention allows students to mix with other young people with great ideas. Seminars cover topics like networking, marketing, money management and business skills. They also have the opportunity to work closely with mentors from established entrepreneurial businesses to help them develop their ideas.

The Invention Convention was a great way to learn about marketing their product, business and networking said student David Lewis. “Our target is to have our product in the supermarket so it was great to learn about starting a small business at the convention”.

On their return Joel and David have tested several sausage prototypes with the whole community getting behind them. The local butcher is providing the meat, farmers the lupin and the school allowing them to make the sausages on site. The much anticipated final prototype will be available to taste test at the college open day on 22 September, WA College of Agriculture, Baxter Road, Cunderdin.

The convention is part of Questacon Smart Moves, a free programme for secondary students, designed to inspire young Australians to be innovative in the areas of science, technology and business. Supported by the Australian Governments, Backing Australia’s Ability: Building Our Future through Science and Innovation programme, and operated by Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre. The convention is a launching pad for the next generation of Australian inventors.

From 8 to 14 July 2007, another group of 30 inspirational innovators will descend on Canberra to bring to life their ideas, devices and gadgets in the hope they too have success with their futuristic endeavors and creations. This five-day programme brings together young Australians aged 13 to 18 who like David and Joel are encouraged to dream the impossible and make it a reality.