• Thursday 4 June 2026
• Photos supplied by Pathfinders

On the 1st of June 2026, a convoy carrying two tonnes of pumpkins rumbled out of Armidale.

They were grown at Tilbuster Station, a working farm run by Pathfinders Armidale, an organisation that offers young people life changing training and mentoring programs to help them gain career-ready agricultural and trade skills, connect to the land and each other, and improve their confidence, teamwork, and self-esteem.

12 years ago, the young people at Tilbuster decided they wanted to pay it forward and use their skills and effort to help others doing it tough. And so was born the first Pathfinders Pumpkin Run, in which pumpkins grown at Tilbuster are taken out on the road and given – whether as produce or warming meals – to the people who need it most.

Stops on this year’s Run included Soul Hub and OzHarvest in Newcastle and, in Sydney, Newtown Mission and Wayside Chapel.

To thank the Pathfinders team for their extraordinary efforts and commitment to community, the Governor hosted a morning tea at Government House, where Chef got the opportunity to show off some of his famous pumpkin-based treats.