Primary pupils weigh plump pumpkins

MEREDITH Primary’s blue storage shed was buzzing with activity last Friday as residents, staff and students gathered to weigh up the winners of the school’s second annual Giant Pumpkin Challenge.

After months of growing, dozens of people arrived to watch the fruits of their labour, and principal Lachlan Day said he was impressed with the turnout.

“It’s lovely to see people walking their pumpkins in with wheelbarrows and even having to bring them in on utes,” he said.

“The seeds went out in November and people have been harvesting and nurturing them over a few months now so they’re quite protective of their pumpkins.

“The students’ involvement is fantastic as well and it’s providing them a great curriculum around maths and weight which is lovely and it’s great to invite the community in to be a part of that.”

The judging was overseen by 10 students who weighed, measured and categorised each pumpkin with mystery pot prizes awarded for top place in categories like the heaviest and largest pumpkins.

This year’s comp saw the introduction of the best-decorated category, with pumpkins seeds allocated by the school through their community pantry.

Meredith resident and avid gardener John Farrugia brought in the first pumpkin for the day, and said the event was “excellent for the children.”

“It teaches them especially with this environment to have a garden and to appreciate it which a lot of them, if you start them young, really do,” he said.

“It shows them too that things don’t just grow overnight, so I don’t really care who wins, it’s just great to see the kids getting enjoyment out of this.”