Move over, millennials. Get wrecked, Gen Z. Bendigo’s next generation of innovators and influencers has arrived, and they’re not afraid to throw a tantrum in a Woolworths checkout line to get what they want.
In the highly anticipated “5 Under 5” list for 2025, The Bendigo Standard — in partnership with whichever daycare was free on Tuesday — profiles five local toddlers who are redefining what it means to be small, unqualified and absolutely full of themselves.
This year, The Bendigo Standard presents “5 Under 5,” the pint-sized prodigies who have achieved more before their fifth birthday than most adults do before their first midlife crisis.
5. Jasper-Rhino McTavish, 3
Freelance Philosopher & Mud Connoisseur
Known in Long Gully playgrounds for his haunting declaration, “Where does the sun go when I blink?” Jasper-Rhino is already being compared to Plato - if Plato had a peanut allergy and an iPad addiction. His TED Talk, “Why I Cried About a Banana,” has 14 million views, all from his mum.
4. Saffron-Lou, 2
Abstract Artist & Influencer
Described as “Banksy meets Bluey,” Saffron-Lou’s finger-paint installation, “Why Won’t Mum Let Me Use the Scissors?” sold for $12,000 at a local gallery. She has 87,000 followers on TikTok, where she reviews oat milks and screams into the void.
3. Brax, 2
Future Tradie & Real Estate Visionary
Brax recently acquired his third plastic tool set and already owns three imaginary properties in Strathfieldsaye, thanks to a Bendigo Monopoly set he partially ate. Local real estate agents fear his disruptive “buy and drool” strategy.
2. Aaliyah-May Sprinkle, 5
Entrepreneur & Juice Bar Tycoon
After opening her backyard juice stand — featuring such flavours as Leaf Water and Mum’s Wine She Forgot About — Aaliyah-May has become a financial force in the under-5 market. She accepts payments in buttons, gravel and whatever her brother was holding.
1. Tilly-Wren Boop, 1
Social Media Mogul & Sandbox Influencer
With more than 80,000 followers on TikTok for her ASMR videos of smashing Play-Doh and whispering “poo bum,” Tilly-Wren is redefining the algorithm. Her signature look - light up Crocs and a half-eaten sandwich — has been dubbed “post-nap chic.”
These prodigies are proving that age has no limit - but a requirement for some rides at the Bendigo Show. Whether they’re lobbying for better juice options or running black-market Play-Doh trades, these under-5 trailblazers show that age is just a number, especially when they haven’t learned to count yet.
Coming next week: Bendigo’s Top 10 Over 100 — Old Legends Still Kicking, Literally.
