By Tanya Steele
A decades-old comeback has seen a re-launch of the Tecoma Primary School spring floral carpet display on Friday 11 October in Tecoma.
The once well-known spring ‘floral carpet’ of the Dandenongs was assembled by a tireless group of volunteers as the Tecoma Centenary Committee continue to mark the 100-year anniversary of the naming of the Tecoma train station.
Tecoma Primary School Principal Rohan Thompson said the set-up was a ‘hive of excitement’.
Students brought in flowers from home and neighbours on Thursday and the project also received donations from an enthusiastic community.
The floral carpet was a modern version of the original rhododendron floral carpets featured many years ago.
Using flower donations from the Tecoma Primary School Community and beyond, a beautiful display of rhododendrons, natives and white pom poms formed the 3m by 3m display set into a sand base which was tended to carefully by the primary school kids.
On Friday the school community was invited to see the display and the wider community visited in the afternoon. People from all over popped in for a chance to see the design and enjoy a BBQ or a bit of cake over a cup of tea. Former school students reminisced about their floral carpet years and recalled bringing their flowers in on little saucers.
For almost 30 years the floral carpet display was a highlight for Cup weekend in October from the 1950s onwards in the hills and people agreed that that was exciting to have it back again.
Students had their own smaller flower designs on display and a wall of colouring pages displayed the inspiration for the final design. A display of older designs featured in the school in days gone by allowed the community to see how the different carpets were presented over the years.
Tecoma Centenary Committee member Kym Cinel said they would like to give massive credit to the Belgrave and Tecoma Township group, past and present students and staff of Tecoma Primary School, residents and businesses for all the help with assembly, carting sand, collecting and donating flowers.
“It had amazing community spirit,” she said.
