Kilmore Community Garden will host an open day on October 29, with special appearances from some colourful scarecrows courtesy of Kilmore Mechanics Institute.
A committee behind the community garden met for the first time since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, hosting a tree-planting day in December 2021 ahead of the garden’s opening in March.
The garden has attracted strong support, with six planter beds rented to community members and multiple other beds used for a kitchen garden at its location next to the Kilmore Anglican Church on Union Street.
It will be the garden’s second open day and organisers said the event would feature guest speaker Kaylene Evers as well as a ‘Scaretactics’ scarecrow display and workshop by the Kilmore Mechanics Institute.
Scaretactics organiser Leanne Stute said the display would have a theme of ‘in the garden’ and encourage colour and creativity.
Ms Stute said Scaretactics had organised scarecrow displays in Kilmore for more than a decade.
“The Kilmore Mechanics Institute has done it for about 12 years, and it started when one of the ladies did [a scarecrow of] Dame Edna [Everage],” she said.
“I took over a couple of years later and we got schools and businesses and some residents from the town involved with making scarecrows.
“We usually have a theme, which has been different things in different years. One was a circus, one was Halloween. This year we want people to make scarecrows with the theme [of ‘in the garden’] because it’s going to be held at the community garden.”
Ms Stute encouraged people to make scarecrows that were ‘exciting, interesting and colourful’ ahead of the open day so they could be displayed during the event.
Children will also be able to make their own scarecrows at the open day, with trophies for the best scarecrows.
Ms Stute said people could bring scarecrows to the Anglican church prior to the open day or arrange for her to collect them before Monday, October 24.
“In one year we had probably 30 people get involved, and we want as many people as possible this year,” she said.
“For anyone who lives in Union Street and wants to make them, they can put them in their yard, but anyone else is welcome to make a scarecrow and bring it up to the church themselves or ring me and let me know.
“It’s simple but it’s fun and colourful, and it’s been really popular. You want colourful things in the garden.”
People can call Ms Stute on 0408 166 088 for more information about Scaretactics.
Kilmore Community Garden committee members said a guest talk from Dr Evers on community connection would also be a highlight of the day.
Dr Evers was recently awarded the Governor-General’s National Emergency Medal for her work supporting the Mallacoota community during the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20.
A sausage sizzle, Devonshire teas, pickling demonstrations and a small market will also feature at the open day, which begins at 10.30am.
People can join Kilmore Community Garden, with beds available to rent at a cost of $20 a year or $15 concession.
People can search for Kilmore Community Garden on Facebook or email kilmorecommunitygarden@gmail.com for more information.
