The winning pumpkin in 2025
A couple of years ago member from the Ararat, Pomonal and Stawell Men’s sheds were at the Moysten Easter show, where there was a pumpkin growing competition.
The blokes from the Ararat shed decided to challenge the other two sheds to a friendly competition – to see who could grow the largest pumpkin. And the loser had to put on a BBQ for the other two sheds!
Located at the base of the Grampians region of Victoria, growing large pumpkins isn’t as easy as it may seem. Pumpkins need quite a bit of sun and a lot of water, and their region gets winter frost!
Secretary of the Pomonal shed, Russ Kellett, said they usually get half a dozen blokes from their shed to grow a pumpkin. Not all of them survive the winter – sadly Russ’s own pumpkin didn’t make it this year.
The inaugural competition was won last year by the Ararat Men’s Shed, with Pomonal coming in second. That meant that Stawell Men’s shed got to host the BBQ for the other two sheds. This year, the Pomonal shed grew the biggest pumpkin, with Ararat coming in second– so that meant Stawell hosted the bbq once again!
Secretary of the Pomonal shed, Russ Kellet, said “We’ve told Stawell we enjoy steak and vanilla slices, thanks!”
The sheds are reasonably close to each other (within 30km), and they always invite the two other sheds when they have special guest speakers and the like. But the pumpkin growing competition provides a different kind of get together.
Russ says “The bbq is a great social day – it’s great for the mental health and socialising. It’s also great for our sheds to get together and learn from each other, as we each do things quite differently”.
The sheds receive support from the local council and the local newspaper covers both the competition and the bbq – and that free publicity has garnered the sheds some new members each year!
The losing shed hosting the BBQ for the other sheds