TARRINGTON’S Laternenfest, the yearly German Christmas tradition that marks the start of the German advent was cancelled earlier this year after COVID lockdowns and restrictions threatened the events ability to go ahead.

But the town’s annual hay bale sculpture competition has forged ahead to bring much needed joy and entertainment to locals and passers-by alike.

The annual event first began after a decorated hay bale was placed on the side of the road during Laternenfest, with more residents joining in each year since.

The competition peaked last year with 38 entrants having created larger than life sculptures from donated hay bales, recycled buckets, galvanised iron, timber, pool noodles and much more.

Tarrington resident, Ange McAllister said she was first inspired to take part in the competition after seeing other people’s creations.

“I’ve taken part in the hay bales for over ten years and enjoy making the creation with my family and always look forward to seeing what everyone else has created and bring joy to the community,” she said.

“We made The Lorax this year, I teach grade two at Tarrington Lutheran School, my class did The Lorax for their school production this year, and my daughter loves The Lorax.

“We knew what we were going to do in September, and we’ve been planning ever since.

“We had to come up with a way to make his moustache and eyebrows, it can be the planning process that takes longer than making it; it only takes a couple of hours to put it together and then we add to it when we get chance.

“We used corflute to make eyebrows and the moustache, it’s a hard plastic so we can recycle or reuse it after.

“One of his eyebrows blew off on the highway on the weekend so we’ve been trying to figure out how to do it, so it doesn’t come off.”

Tarrington Laternenfest Committee member, Mandy Nagorcka said while participation in this year’s event has dropped off slightly with 34 entrants, community enthusiasm for the event hasn’t wavered.

“We’ve had a lot of new entrants this year, which is exciting, people often enter one or two years in a row and then have a break,” she said.

“It’s good fun, no one talks about what they’re going to do, and then one day you drive by and see what they’ve done.

 “It’s open to the residents of Tarrington, families at the schools, congregation members and this year, we extended the invite to fire brigade members.”

The Hamilton Art Gallery’s team of esteemed judges, led by education and engagement officer, Agostina Hawkins, announced the category winners as well as the overall winner of the hay bale competition on Friday.

Ms Hawkins said the overall winner - the lion (pictured) was an incredible effort by the Taylor family.

“It is brilliant to see such a majestic lion on the highway through Tarrington,” she said.

“The shaping around the face and body of the lion gives it a very realistic look. It is a wonderful focal piece of the event and an amazing creation for everyone who sees it to be enthralled by.”

Category winners also included, Laternenfest/Christmas season winner, sleigh with Vegemite, and reindeer by Tarrington School; best use of recycled material, Fred Flintstone by the Millard family; character/nursery rhyme, Olaf by the Taylor girls; creature, bunny rabbit by the Penny family; novelty, COVID-19 vaccine needle by the Cay family.