YATES JUNIOR LANDCARE CHALLENGE
27 Apr 2011
The winners of the Yates Junior Landcare Challenge to inspire budding young gardeners by seeing who can grow the tallest sunflower have been announced.
Open to all under 16’s, schools and youth groups, the challenge saw Lachlan Hillas, age 8, of Wodonga, awarded the tallest sunflower prize in the individual and family category by growing a 270cm sunflower. Lachlan planted the Yates giant sunflower seeds in the Hillas family vegetable garden and tended to the plants with the help of his mum Jacqui, Dad Rohan, and brother Ethan. Thanks to the wettest summer on record in the Wodonga area, Lachlan didn’t have to worry about watering the plants too often. “I really enjoyed planting my sunflowers and seeing them grow. I even saved some seeds and I’ll definitely grow them again next year,” said Lachlan.
St Peter and Paul’s Primary School in Doncaster, Victoria grew the tallest sunflower in the schools and groups category with an impressive 255cm plant, which was tended to by grade one student Angus Taig.
The widest sunflower head in the individual and family category was won by Sam McVilly, aged 6, of Wy Yung, Victoria, and his sister Tess, aged 10, with a head width of 46cm. The Glenmore Road garden club from Glenmore Road Public School in Paddington, NSW, took the widest head prize in the schools and groups category with a measurement of 40cm.
The creative photography category was won by The Murphy Family from Macksville, NSW, who submitted a photograph of their sunflower all dressed up complete with a sun hat and a pair of sunglasses.
Over 66,000 children took part in the Yates Junior Landcare Challenge. “We are delighted with the results from the latest Yates Junior Landcare Challenge,” said Heather Campbell, CEO Landcare Australia. “It’s great to see a new generation of gardeners get their hands dirty and I’d like to congratulate everyone who took part. We hope they’ll continue to have an interest in gardening as a result of the challenge.”
“We are delighted to be able to provide encouragement and support to all young, budding gardeners and to help educate them on the importance of growing produce and the environmental benefits achievable from sustainable gardening practices,” she added.
The challenge follows the huge success of the Yates Junior Landcare Pumpkin challenge, which saw 20,000 young people take part. The McGrath family from Toowoomba was named the group winner for their 175kg whooper of a pumpkin. The individual winner was a monstrous 94kg pumpkin grown by Boyd Wales from Walcha, rural NSW.
Judy Horton, Yates Communications Manager, hopes the Sunflower Challenge will foster a new generation of junior gardeners. “The previous challenges we have run in conjunction with Junior Landcare have been hugely successful and we are very happy to see the interest in the quest to grow Australia’s tallest sunflower was so great this year. Hopefully the kids will continue to get out in the garden and see what great spectacles can come from such small seeds.”
More information on the Yates Junior Landcare Sunflower Challenge can be found at: www.juniorlandcarechallenge.com.au
Photo caption: Angus Taing St Peter & Paul’s Public School, Doncaster; Student Glenmore Rd Public School, Paddington