Hills Montessori School student Lucia Gray recognised for The School Stuff Checker, inspired by her own forgetfulness

A young Hills girl’s forgetfulness – and inventiveness – may be about to put an end to one of Aussie kids’ most tried and true classroom excuses, while winning herself a big prize too.

Forgetful kids will soon run out of excuses for leaving their school books at home – all thanks to a new app that will make tying a string on your finger a thing of the past.

Ten-year-old Lucia Gray has been named a finalist in the 2021 Origin Little Big Idea competition for her revolutionary idea inspired by her own forgetfulness.

The Year 4 Hills Montessori School student is the brains behind The School Stuff Checker, a phone app which helps kids get organised for the day.

Lucia said her invention had helped put an end to forgetting her book bag and diary, which had often made her late for school.

“I’m using RFID tags like they put in the back of library books to keep track of who’s borrowed them,” she said.

“If I put a tag on each of my school things then I can scan my school bag with the phone and it will check all the things inside against a list of what I need for the day and tell me if anything’s missing.

“It’ll also help me find things because it will beep when I’m searching through the house and I get close to the missing thing.”

Lucia Gray, 10, has been recognised as one of Australia's brightest young inventors from more than 1100 entries nationally in the 2021 Origin Little Big Idea competition. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

The innovative student is now in the running to win $10,000 for her idea after being named one of 12 finalists from across Australia.

A winner will be announced in November with Lucia hopeful of securing a win.

Lucia said she would spend the money on what every little girl wants – a horse.

“When my friend told me about the Little Big Idea competition that Origin organises I thought I could get a horse by winning it, because it’s enough money for a really good horse with all the tack for it as well,” she said.

“And my invention will save so much time looking for school stuff that I’ll have more time to ride my new horse.”

Little Big Idea judge Dr Jordan Nguyen said this year’s cohort of extraordinary talent had made it one of the “trickiest years to judge”.

“I’m blown away by the bold thinking and creativity, and it’s awe-inspiring to see how young Aussies are considering the world around them and how their invention could help make for a better future,” he said.

Now in its eighth year, Little Big Idea is designed to foster creativity and innovation in Aussie kids as part of Origin’s broader commitment to supporting education and encouraging Australia’s future STEAM talent.

Originally published as Hills Montessori School student Lucia Gray recognised for The School Stuff Checker, inspired by her own forgetfulness