What's New in Junior Landcare

Weighing in at a massive 18.5kg, Alexandra’s melon is over four times the weight of the average Country Sweet. Alexandra’s mum Elizabeth is a keen gardener and horticulturalist. She said:

“Our watermelons were grown completely organically, with no chemicals or inorganic fertiliser. The garden bed Alex planted the seeds in had lots of manure, so she used pot ash and lime to raise the pH level. When she saw the weights being uploaded online by others, she realised just how big hers was. We did have another big one as a back-up, but the goat got that one.”

Brisbane boy and his Candy Red whopper watermelon

Weighing in at a massive 17kg, Brendan’s melon is nearly as big as he is. His father John said:

“Brendan and his brother planted the seeds late last year, just before the heavy rain struck. We didn’t expect them to survive, but the vines started growing and kept getting bigger. Then one day we discovered a giant watermelon hiding in the vines. We still have about eight other melons growing, which we will share amongst out neighbours and family.”

Read the article about Brendan in Brisbane's Courier Mail

* Photo by Nathan Richter for The Courier Mail


School Winners

Aldavilla Public School in Kempsey on NSW's north coast has triumphed over nearly 1,000 other schools and groups to win the school/group category with their 11.5kg Country Sweet melon.  Their watermelon survived the six-week summer holiday, and was lucky enough to avoid the extreme weather that claimed many other Challenge watermelons in other parts of the country.

Wytaliba Primary in Glenn Innes, NSW, had a come-from-behind victory in the Candy Red school/group category, after Hayman Island State School's melon exploded from too much water! 

* Photo: Aldavilla PS and their watermelons, courtesy of the Macleay Argus