Australasian Giant Pumpkin and Vegetable Society

The Australian Giant Pumpkin and Vegetable Society (AGPVS) was formed in 1996 by a group of giant pumpkin and vegetable enthusiasts who wanted to promote the growing of giant pumpkins and vegetables in Australia. Previous to this, the Competition was run under the auspices of the World Pumpkin Confederation. Since 1997 the Australasian Giant Pumpkin and Vegetable Competitions were held across Australia (at multiple locations on the same day) every April until 2002 to find Australia’s heaviest pumpkin and other record breaking vegetables. The AGPVS has endeavoured to keep a comprehensive list of AGPVS and Australian vegetable records, as after extensive research, no other Australian organisation was found to be keeping such records.

The founding members of The Australasian Giant pumpkin and Vegetable Society were Wendy (also known as The Pumpkin Lady) & George Stayner (Giant Pumpkin Champions), Paul & Lorene Latham (Giant Sunflower Champion), Ian Miller (Giant Pumpkin Champion), Tom Karnatz (Giant Pumpkin Champion), and Frank Webber (Giant Pumpkin & Giant Vegetable Champion).

Australian Giant Pumpkin and Vegetable Supporters

When the Australasian Giant Pumpkin and Vegetable Society ceased operation in 2002, members Paul Latham and Wendy Stayner were given the authority to continue the work of maintaining the list of Australian records and certifying new records; thus forming Australian Giant Pumpkin and Vegetable Supporters (AGPVS) as we know it today.

Current Committee Members

Paul Latham

Coordinator and Judge

Founding Member

Paul is the longest serving member of AGPVS and has achieved a number of sunflower records, including tallest, widest head and most flowers on one plant.

Phillip McCauley

Judge (2016 - current)

Phillip started growing giant pumpkins on his farm in 1999, and giant vegetables in 2011. He grew a Victorian giant pumpkin record weighing 385.1kg in 2012 and has a few other giant vegetable records to his name. Some of Phillip's giant vegetables appeared in Masterchef season 9 episode 40

Marie Kalkaus

Judge (2018 - current)

Marie's first giant pumpkin came second in the 2014 Ekka competition and she hasn't looked back since, trialing many giant vegetables in a subtropical climate.

Retired Committee Members

Wendy Stayner

Founding member