Displayed along the Southern Drive of this year’s Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show were the school entries for the Sustainable Scarecrow Competition. The Garden Superheroes theme ‘encouraged participants to design scarecrows that embody heroic figures protecting gardens from pests and promoting plant health’.
Among the 50 entries from Victorian schools – showcasing superhero scarecrows made from repurposed, recycled and reused materials – were creations from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) schools that were awarded second and third place, as well as the People’s Choice Award.
The general public cast their votes at the show for their favourite superhero scarecrow, with Emma Vulin MP awarding People’s Choice to ‘Captain Defender’ – the creation of St Augustine’s Primary School, Keilor.
An enthusiastic team of students representing the three 3/4 classes worked on building a scarecrow that fit the brief of being a superhero made using recycled products. Many of the students willingly gave up their lunchbreaks to work on the project.
‘Captain Defender’ represented the bees who, the students felt, are the real superheroes of not only the garden, but the planet. Many ideas were considered and discussed, and it was a fantastic opportunity for students’ collaborative and creative skills to be on display. One student eagerly knitted garbage bags to create a vest, a handbag was made to represent a beehive and a wand to entice the bees added to the incredible creation.
