More than 80 scarecrows of all shapes and sizes have crowded into the Mary Valley for its biannual Scarecrow festival and organisers couldn’t be happier.
But it was the entry by the Imbil Police Station which stole the judges’ hearts and won them grand champion 2025.
Andy Waltzing Matilda depicted two full-sized scarecrows and a sheep in the billabong setting you would expect from the entry’s name.
Judges said competition was fierce between seasoned straw-stuffers and new creators.
This year’s theme was Australiana and entries were inspected for originality, use of recycled materials, safety for wildlife and passers by as well as fitting the theme.
Some entrants had also followed the tradition of giving their scarecrows a story board.
“The champion display meets all the criteria I looked for,” one judge said.
“Old material used. Well-constructed and fully in line with the Banjo Patterson poem of Waltzing Matilda.
The poem and music were posted as part of the display.
“And Jolly Jumbuck had been recently sheared. Only one of the troopers made the display though – the other two were probably on RDOs.”
Cash prizes up for grabs for the Mary Valley Scarecrow Festival hosted by Mary Valley Artslink.
Presentations will be held at the Imbil Community and Sports Club on Sunday 28 September at 2pm.
All welcome.
The overall winner of the traditional category was Bazza by Simone Cooper (C11) and the overall artistic winner was Steve and Tick Tock the croc by Darren Biar (C10).
Overall winner of the child category was Not so Blinky by Lisa Drury (B4).
Judges also gave a special shout out to Sharon and Andrew for their entry Marvellous Men (C10) which was highly commended.
Mary Valley Artslink has published its Google map which gives you a great guide to scarecrow spotting.
Download the map at www.maryvalleyartslink.com.au/mary-valley-scarecrow-festival
If you want to see the scarecrows, the festival runs until 30 September in the Mary Valley.
Imbil town winners: Traditional – Andy Watzing Matilda (B3) at the Imbil Police Station; artistic – equal winners – Catching Sheila by Agnes Terve (B8) and Inclusion matters by Solace Farm (B1); child – equal winners – Bonfire Bob by Osca, Licinda and Lilly Cochrane (B14) and Not so Blinky by Lisa Drury (B4).
Kandanga/Dagun and Amamoor (judged together): Traditional – equal winners – Beetrice & Betrie Save the Bees by Wellness Australia Group (B6) and Bazza by Simone Cooper (C11); artistic – equal winners – Marvellous Men by Sharon and Andrew (C8) and Steve and Tick-Tock the Croc (C10) by Darren Biar; child category – Wild Bill by Tyler & Kayiesha Nisbet (C4).
Kenilworth town winners: Traditional – Daisy by Anette Drysdale (A3); artistic – Ann Van Lou by Louise Lehtonen (A2).
