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Some weeks feel like a cosmic joke, and lately I’ve been wondering if the universe is having a bit of fun at my expense. Why does life have to test us? It’s rhetorical, of course, but I only clued on to the whole snake versus horse year conversation recently because it’s been everywhere. Then someone mentioned Mercury retrograde and I thought, what I’m not someone who follows astrology closely, yet even I’ve noticed the collective wobble. Technology glitches, plans shifting, people feeling a bit off their game. Whether it’s the stars, the seasons or simply the pace of life, it has been a reminder that sometimes things feel harder than they should, and we’re all just doing our best to keep moving forward.
Luckily, I had the chance to chat with five extraordinary young people whose energy cut straight through the chaos of last week. Their work in robotics and their opportunity to represent Australia at the International RoboCup competition in South Korea was the perfect antidote to the noise.
Team Dino Nuggies, a five-member performance robotics team from the Lighthouse School in Rockhampton are preparing to represent Australia at the International RoboCup Championships in South Korea. They have beaten teams with larger budgets and more resources by doing things differently. In performance robotics, they design and build robots that tell a story live on stage. When something goes wrong, they pivot in the moment. It is resilience in action. If you have ever wondered what regional kids are capable of when they are backed properly by a village, this episode is your answer.

Welcome to Rockhampton with Nyree Johnson, a podcast born from a deep love of people and place. Across Central Queensland, from the heart of Rockhampton to the shores of the Capricorn Coast and beyond, live locals whose stories deserve more than a passing mention. This podcast is my way of uncovering those stories, of exploring what shaped them, what drives them, and the legacy they’re quietly building through community spirit, resilience, and action.
These conversations aren’t about recognition, they’re about connection. And yes, selfishly, they’re about learning through the experiences of others. Because when we hear where someone’s been, we begin to understand where we all might go, and what opportunities could be just around the corner.

Today’s guests are a group of young innovators who are proving that world-class talent doesn’t just come from big cities or big budgets, it comes from passion, persistence, and a whole lot of heart. Team Dino Nuggies is a five-member performance robotics team made up of recent graduates from Lighthouse Christian School: Abi, Allira, Emily, Maddie and Dustin. Together, they’ve achieved something extraordinary. After winning regionals, then states, then nationals not once, but across consecutive years, they’ve earned the honour of representing both Rockhampton and Australia at the International RoboCup Championships in South Korea.
What makes their story even more remarkable is how they’ve done it. Competing in “on-stage robotics,” a category many people have never even heard of, they design and build robots that perform live alongside them in a Jurassic Park-themed routine. It’s creative, technical, unpredictable, and demands the kind of resilience most adults would struggle to muster. When things go wrong, and in robotics, they always do, this team adapts in real time, keeps their cool, and carries the performance.
They’ve beaten schools with far larger teams, far bigger budgets, and far more resources. They’ve juggled study, work, relationships, and even interstate living to stay connected. And through it all, they’ve put Rockhampton on the map in a global robotics community that’s now paying attention.

From Regional Queensland to the World Stage
At RoboCup Junior, we love seeing how robotics brings communities together — and the story from Lighthouse Christian School in regional Queensland is a perfect example.
Since joining RoboCup Junior in 2021, the LCS teams—competing as the Beacons—have steadily grown their program through the dedication of students, teachers, families, and local supporters. What began with modest results has developed into an incredible journey of learning, perseverance, and success. Their 2025 season was their strongest yet. The Dino Nuggies, an all-girls Year 12 Open On Stage team, delivered an unforgettable Jurassic Park–themed performance and completed the hat-trick: Regional, State, and National Champions.
Now, the team is preparing for their next big step — representing Australia at RoboCup Junior Internationals in Incheon, South Korea in June 2026. Since Nationals, the team has also welcomed additional members to help strengthen the squad as they prepare for the international stage. Getting to this point has been a true community effort. Students and staff have hosted pie drives, bake sales, and technology showcase evenings, alongside support from local businesses, community organisations, and generous donors. Many students have also invested their own time, weekends, and holidays to design, build, test, and rehearse.
As the team prepares for Korea, they are actively seeking support to help make the journey possible. Every contribution — big or small — helps these students take their hard work to the world stage. Congratulations to Lighthouse Christian School, the Beacons teams, and the Dino Nuggies. We cannot wait to see what comes next.
You can read the full story from their teacher as a blog post on our website, and you’ll soon be able to follow along and support the team through their website as they prepare for South Korea: https://lcs.ipto.com.au/Stud.../dinonuggies/pages/about.html

RoboCup in Queensland is growing from strength to strength, and it's wonderful to see our Regional teams reaching such success at the National, and soon international stage. We really appreciate our regional teams, particularly knowing how much of an expense it is to travel just to attend our State Competition. RCJQ is actively growing our regional communities, with equipment and workshops provided across the state.
Looking forward to seeing RCJQ represented on the world stage (with more teams to be showcased... QLD is well represented this year!)