Yates Junior Landcare Sunflower Challenge winners announced

Sydney, 9th March, 2011:  The Yates Junior Landcare Sunflower Challenge has drawn to a close with Victorian participants dominating the winner’s podium this year.

Lachlan Hillas, age 8, of Wodonga, Victoria has won the tallest sunflower prize in the individual and family category of the Yates Junior Landcare sunflower challenge by growing a 270cm giant.  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, while 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 fabulous photograph of their sunflower all dressed up with a sun hat and a pair of sunnies!   

Lachlan Hillas 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.  He said:

“I really enjoyed planting my sunflowers and seeing them grow.  I even saved some seeds and I’ll definitely grow them again next year!”

Over 66,000 children took part in the Yates Junior Landcare sunflower challenge with giant sunflowers popping up all over the country.

 “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,” she added.

Judy Horton, Communications Manager, Yates commented:  “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.”