General News
17 October, 2023
Scaring Community Gardens crows
Locals visiting the Warracknabeal Community Garden might get the feeling they are being watched, that there are eyes everywhere - and no, it is not a CCTV camera. Six colourful scarecrows have been placed around the garden beds after being entered...
Locals visiting the Warracknabeal Community Garden might get the feeling they are being watched, that there are eyes everywhere - and no, it is not a CCTV camera.
Six colourful scarecrows have been placed around the garden beds after being entered into the 2nd Annual Scarecrow Competition, and were also spotted at the Warracknabeal Show last week, creatively welcoming patrons at the entrance to the home crafts pavilion.
This year, the main criteria was to have aspects of the scarecrow that will move in the wind, and so be useful for scaring birds away from the veggie patch.
Some have straw hanging out, some are covered with scarves that flap in the wind, and others have shiny, dangling things to dazzle and scare away the birds.
There are some cute faces peeking out of the bunch, while others are menacing, with scary eyes.
One has an umbrella, and one creature has a dinosaur face, a metallic frame body and solar powered lights to shine in the dark.
The Community Garden worked with Yarriambiack Shire to promote the competition and sponsor the prizes, and would like to thank all those who took part.
“Judging was a very difficult task as every scarecrow had a unique personality, and it was evident a lot of thought and time had gone into the creation,” said member Wendy Hewitt.
First prize went to the big scarecrow “Miss Onesie” created by Braxton Cox.
Dressed in a Halloween-patterned onesie with scarves galore, this scarecrow had eyes looking in all directions ready to eye-off any menacing birds.
Second prize went to “Juliette” - a classy creation by Ruby, Pepper and Gigi Bergin.
The three sisters from Melbourne were staying with grandparents, Kaye and Derek Picken, during the school holidays and found this the perfect activity to keep them entertained.
Juliette has a beautiful flowing top that moves with the slightest breeze, shiny foil hands and a mop of shaggy hair.
Prizes of Jono and Johno shop vouchers, and a bag of great gardening activities, were donated by the Community Garden and the Yarriambiack Shire, while other entrants received vouchers for local stores.
“As the event was so well supported, it will certainly be back again next year,” said Ms Hewitt.
“We hope everyone is now thinking about their creations for 2024.”
Scarecrows can be collected any time before Friday November 3, from the Community Garden.
