Beacons of joy: sunflowers to shine in Torquay

LOCAL sunflower growers will have a chance to display their best blooms at this year’s Surf Coast Celebration of Sunflowers Celebration Day.

Now in its third year, the annual community celebration will again be hosted on Torquay’s Esplanade tomorrow (Saturday, February 17) at Torquay Frontbench from 10am.

Among the growers attending this weekend is Jan Juc resident Vera Tosevski, who has played a major role each year in facilitating the event.

Ms Tosevski has been growing sunflowers along her fence line for the past nine years, ever since her late husband Steve received his first sunflower seeds from his grandson on Father’s Day that year.

“Sunflowers are very popular in North Macedonia where I am from originally,” Ms Tosevski said.

“Sunflowers are my favourite, I’m happy all the time, but sunflowers make me even more happy. I do love growing them and I look forward to the celebration day each year.

“I like the event, seeing everyone together, everyone happy, that’s the best part for me.”

 

 

Celebration day co-ordinator Bronwyn McNamee said every free seed packet distributed by local businesses in preparation for the event contained seeds produced by Ms Tosevski’s flowers.

“Vera has had a large impact on the first couple of years we’ve held the celebration days, people drive past her fence every day and many residents know her for it.

“To have her seeds in each of the 3,000 seed packets we dispersed, used by other growers across the Surf Coast, continues her and Steve’s legacy.”

Ms McNamee said this week’s celebration day was the most inclusive to date and encouraged any non-sunflower growers to bring along their best bouquets for the first time.

Ms McNamee suggests anyone attending tomorrow should arrive between 9.30-9.45am. The celebration proceedings will begin at 10am sharp.