WINNERS OF THE 2014 STORYBOOK GARDEN COMPETITION

Happy international day of people with disability.

Firstly, thank you to all the children, mums, dads, grandparents and educators who took the time to create a miniature garden for the storybook garden competition, raising funds for Boundless Canberra the all abilities playground. I was thrilled to read about how you all enjoyed spending time doing this activity.

Thanks to our prize sponsors - Wilomark Imagery, Michael O'Brien, Belconnen I-Play, Canty's Bookshop, Cockington Green Gardens, Dendy Cinemas, Gardening 4 Kids, The George Gregan Foundation, Koomarri, National Dinosaur Museum, National Zoo and Aquarium, Questacon, Seg Glide Ride Segways Canberra, Tutu Program - Australia, Zone 3 Laser Tag, Adam Robinson, Gardening Australia, The Green Shed, Matthew Sumner, Magic Mini Gardens Canberra, Megan Garret and Rodney's Nursery & Garden Centre.

Thanks to our judges - Rodney Toll (Rodney's Plants Plus), Genevieve Jacobs (666 ABC Canberra) and Sandie Parkes (The Green Shed).

Thanks to Ray White Tuggeranong for roadside signage, Her Canberra for their media and to the many local and national businesses and community organisations who helped to promote the competition.

And finally thanks to my dear friends who gave me lots of great suggestions to help shape and promote the competition.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2014 STORYBOOK GARDEN COMPETITION WINNERS

0 - PRESCHOOLER ENTRIES (FAMILIES)
Judge : Rodney Toll, Rodney Plant's Plus

1st : Garden Fairy Village made by Elka and her mum
Prizes : Elka - a custom handmade tutu from tutu'ist Claire Twisty Vix, mum - $50 green shed voucher

2nd : Dinosaur Roar made by Liam and his mum
Prizes : Liam - Belconnen I-play voucher, mum - Body shop pack by Megan Garrett

3rd : Magic Faraway Tree made by Eva, Blake and their mum
Prizes : children - George Gregan branded clothing x 2, mum - reversing camera

4th : Storybook Collection made by Maya and her mum
Prizes : Maya - Cockington Green Family Pass, mum - George Gregan branded clothing

PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENT ENTRIES
Judge : Genevieve Jacobs, 666 ABC Radio Canberra.

1st: Fairy Realm made by Marilla and her mum
Prizes: Marilla - National Zoo and Aquarium family pass, mum - 2 x Dendy Cinema Tickets

 
2nd: Hobbit House and Garden made by Connor and his mum
Prize : I-tunes voucher, mum - bodyshop pack

3rd : Camp Half-Blood by Brady and his dad
Prizes : Questacon family pass, dad - Blueray DVDs

4th: 10 little rubber ducks made by Elywn with help from mum
Prizes : Cockington Green family pass, mum - 10 back issues Gardening Australia Magazine

0 - PRESCHOOLER ENTRIES (CHILDCARE)
Judge : Sandie Parkes, The Green Shed

1st : Jack and the Beanstalk made by 2-3 year olds, YMCA Early Learning Centre, Holder.
Prizes : children - 3 family passes Cockington Green, educators - $50 Green Shed voucher

2nd: Old Macdonald had a Farm made by pre-schoolers at the YMCA Early Learning Centre, Belconnen.
Prizes : children - 3 x Family tickets National Dinosaur Museum, educators - Magic Mini Garden

 
3rd: Mad Hatters Tea Party by the preschool room at the Calwell Early Childhood Centre.
Prizes : children - Canty's bookstore voucher $60 , educators - Rodney's plants plus voucher

4th: Handa's Surprise by 2-3 year olds at the Currawong Early Childhood centre, Barton.
Prizes : children - Gardening4kids $50 voucher, educators - 4 x 30 minutes segway rides

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS
The Very Hungry Caterpillar made by 0-2 year olds and their educators, YMCA Holder Early Learning Centre
Prize: Wood carving wall hanging by Michael O'Brien (valued at $800)

"Spot visits Evans Garden" made by Evan (2) and his mum.
Prize: Wilowmark Imagery - photoshoot with 10 images (valued at $1200).

I will be in contact with all winners in the evening of 3 Dec to arrange delivery of prizes.

2015 STORYBOOK GARDEN COMPETITION

I am pleased to announce that the Storybook Garden Competition will be back for Spring 2015, continuing to raise funds for Boundless Canberra. I would be very grateful for any suggestions you might have to improve the competition for next year. I am very open to any suggestions - different promotions, format, prizes, daily inspiration, who can enter etc. Please comment on this post or email your suggestions to actstorybook@gmail.com

Kind regards
Fiona McIntosh

Entries Received

Click here to see all entries received in 2014.

2014 STORYBOOK GARDEN COMPETITION (ACT REGION)

The Storybook Garden Competition is about creating miniature gardens using recycled and natural materials.

A storybook garden can be based on anything you might find in a book – a garden for fairies, super heroes, cars, dinosaurs, turtles, toads or witches – any story you can imagine.

The competition is open to children and young people (to 18 years) who live in the ACT and surrounding region. You might like to make it yourself, with your family or friends. You can also get an adult to help too – mum or dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles, your teacher or childcare educator.

There are great prizes for you and the person who may help you.  Prizes are listed below.
 
The competition costs $10 to enter and all entry fees will go towards towards Boundless, the Centenary of Canberra National Playground - Canberra’s first all abilities playground on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, opening on Saturday 11 October 2014.

The competition ends on Wednesday 26 November 2014.

The winners will be announced here on Wednesday 3 December 2014 – which is International Day of People with Disability. Prizes will be posted to winners.

HOW TO ENTER

Step 1. Make a Storybook Garden using recycled or natural items. You might like to create your garden in a container or corner of your yard. It can be as big or small as you like.

• What household / garden items could you use?
• The Green Shed is a great source of recycled items 
• Looking for inspiration?  Here is our pinterest board of storybook garden ideas we love.

Step 2. Take a photo of your Storybook Garden

Step 3. Email your photo, name, age, school year (if you are a student), a one line description of your entry, the name of the person who helped you, your relationship to them and your contact details to actstorybook@gmail.com.  

• We will upload your photo and description to our pinterest board. 
• Your details will be kept private and not passed on to a third party, including the ACT Government.
• Your photo should not exceed 10 megabytes.
• Your photo should not include images of people. 
• Your email should be sent by 5pm Wednesday 26 November 2014.

Step 4. Donate $10 to Boundless Canberra via their donate page. Your entry fees will be going towards the construction costs of the playground.

Step 5. Tell Boundless Canberra that you have donated to the Storybook Garden Competition team via the donation 'thank you' page.

Step 6. Please share this competition wherever you can.  Share it on your Facebook page, Pin it, Tweet it… tell your friends about it.

COMPETITION PRIZES

There will be prize packs for pre-schoolers, primary students and high school students as well as their helpers which might be parents, grandparents, teachers or other adults. 

Prizes have been generously donated by the following people and businesses:

Prizes for children and young people:

• Belconnen I-Play - Small group up to 5 people valued at $100 -2 hours of games.
• Cantys bookshop - 2 x $30 book vouchers
• Cockington Green Gardens - 5 x family passes
• Dendy Cinemas - 2 x Traditional cinema vouchers
• Gardening4kids - $50 voucher to be awarded to a child with additional needs
• George Gregan Foundation - branded children's clothing
• Koomarri - a $50 I-tunes voucher
• National Dinosaur Museum - 3 x Family Admission Tickets
• National Zoo and Aquarium - family pass
• Questacon - family pass entry for 2 Adults and up to 3 children (valued at $70)
• SegGlideRide  - 4 x 30 minutes segway rides for riders over the age of 12 years.
• Tutu Program Australia - a custom handmade tutu from tutu'ist Claire Twisty Vix.
• Wilowmark Imagery - photoshoot for the young person and their family with 10 images (valued at $1200).
• Zone 3 Laser Tag Canberra have kindly donated an entry ticket.

Prizes for adult helpers:

• Adam Robinson - Reversing camera
• Gardening Australia - 10 back issues of Gardening Australia magazine
• George Gregan Foundation - branded adult's clothing
• The Green Shed - 2 x $50 shop vouchers
• Matthew Sumner - Blue-Ray DVDs (BeeGees and Eagles)
• Magic Mini Gardens Canberra - mini garden valued at $50
• Megan Garrett - Body Shop prize pack 
• Michael O'Brien - Wood carving wall hanging (valued at $800)
• Rodneys Plants Plus - prize value to be confirmed
  

More prizes will be added on this webpage, our Facebook page and on our Pinterest board.

If you can sponsor a prize or suggest someone who can, please email actstorybook@gmail.com.

WHO IS JUDGING THIS COMPETITION?

There are three judges:

- Rodney Toll, Rodney's Plants Plus
- Genevieve Jacobs, presenter 666 ABC Canberra radio
- Sandie Parkes, co-owner The Green Shed

Each judge will select the top three entries from each of the following categories : 0 - preschoolers, primary school students, high school students.

 

WHO IS RUNNING THIS COMPETITION?

This competition is being run as a private fundraising initiative by Fiona McIntosh, who is also an employee of Disability ACT in the ACT Government.  The initiative is supported by Boundless Canberra. 

 

OTHER RULES:

No responsibility is taken for late or lost entries.
The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into
Prizes cannot be transferred or exchanged
You can enter as many times as you like

FURTHER INFORMATION

Web :  actstorybook.blogspot.com.au
Facebook : www.facebook.com/ACTstorybook
Pinterest : www.pinterest.com/actstorybook
Email : actstorybook@gmail.com

Boundless Canberra information

Donation page : www.boundlesscanberra.org.au/donate.html
Donation 'Thank you' page : www.boundlesscanberra.org.au/thankyoutransfer.html
Facebook : www.facebook.com/BoundlessCanberra
Contacts : www.boundlesscanberra.org.au/contact.html