Hilary ready to show her stuff

By Rebecca Fraser
STUDENTS at a Narre Warren South school have been having a dairy good time lately with the arrival of a new visitor – Hilary the Hillsmeade cow.
Hilary, the life sized model cow, mooed into the Hillsmeade Primary schoolyard after students entered Dairy Australia’s ‘Decorate a Cow’ competition.
The school is one of 20 Victorian primary schools to win the fibreglass models.
The dairy decorated cows will be placed on display at this month’s Royal Melbourne Show, grazing throughout the showgrounds from 21 September to 1 October.
Grade one teacher Jacinta Jones said students had entered various slogans into the competition with their catchphrase ‘Dairy good for strong bones’ coming up a winner.
Ms Jones said all grade one students had contributed to the art piece, creating pictures showing how fit and strong they were after having dairy foods.
The cow is currently hidden away from the school’s other students and will be unveiled this week before being taken off to the show on Friday.
School principal Anne Nicholls named the cow Hilary and Ms Jones said many of the students would be sad to see their new friend go.
The cows are being used to highlight dairy as Victoria’s largest export earner. There are 1.3 million dairy cows in Victoria producing two thirds of the nation’s milk and more than $2.1 billion in exports to Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Although the cows cannot produce milk, the school that produces the most MOOving work of art will win a $1000 Myer voucher to spend on new equipment for their canteen or school.
The winning cow will be announced at the Royal Melbourne Show on World School Milk Day, September 27 in the Town Square at 1.30pm.