McCORMACK CHRISTMAS COLOURING COMPETITION FULL OF SEASON JOY AND OPTIMISM

A delightful drawing of Santa Claus driving a header through a canola crop has won this year’s Christmas drawing competition conducted by Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack.

The picture was drawn by six-year-old Weethalle Public School Year 1 student, Lexi Anderson.

“Lexi’s drawing captured the spirit of Christmas this year in a unique Australian way – a return to a good harvest and Santa with a big smile on his face,” Mr McCormack said.

“There are many others with smiles on their faces in the Riverina and Central West this year because of the good season and it is so good to see those smiles return after the years of drought we have endured.”

Lexi is the daughter of Sarah and Dane Anderson and the sister of Luke, 11, and Macey, 9, who are also students of Weethalle Public School.

Mr McCormack presented Lexi with her book prize during Weethalle Public School’s presentation evening.

“Lexi told me she wanted to be a farmer when she grew up,” Mr McCormack said.

“I won’t hold her to that, but it is terrific to hear a young person loving the farming life so much she wants to make a career of it.”

More than 1550 Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students from right throughout the Riverina electorate entered this year’s drawing competition, the seventh conducted by Mr McCormack.

The theme of the competition was Christmas in the Riverina and Central West.

Mr McCormack said he was again overwhelmed not only by the large number of entries but also by the quality of the drawings and the joy of Christmas which showed clearly in the images.

Runner-up in the 2020 competition was St Joseph’s Primary School, Wagga Wagga, Kindergarten student Maisie Pulver, 5, while third place went to St Michael’s Primary School, Coolamon, Year 2 student Noah Hilton, 8.

Maisie and Noah also won books for their outstanding entries.

Each student who entered the competition has been given a colourful certificate to acknowledge their entry and contribution to the Christmas spirit.

“Thank you to every student who submitted an entry and thanks, also, to all the school staff who support the competition every year – without them the competition would not be as successful as it has been,” Mr McCormack said.

Prize winners

• 1st Place: Lexi Anderson, 6, Weethalle Public School

• 2nd Place: Maisie Pulver, 5, St Joseph’s Primary School, Wagga Wagga

• 3rd Place: Noah Hilton, 8, St Michael’s Primary School, Coolamon