Lilydale High School students and Melba patients and staff celebrate the new community garden. 51647
A GARDEN makeover is bringing smiles to the faces of people with a disability in Mount Evelyn.
Melba Support Services and Lilydale High School students last week celebrated the completion of a community garden at the Ormeau Road centre.
The Year 9 students spearheaded the project as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Their teacher Glenn Hobday said students participating in the award must learn a skill, complete a physical activity, an adventurous journey, and community service.
“It’s all about a commitment over a period of time,” he said.
The garden project made up their service component.
“Judy and I just linked up then said to them, ‘this is what’s happening. Design it and organise it’,” Mr Hobday said.
“Along the way, they need resources and help and guidance.”
Mr Hobday said the students learnt to follow through on a commitment.
“There were times where the enthusiasm waned a little bit, but it was a case of ‘here’s our deadline, we have to meet it’,” he said.
They organised donations, sponsors and materials and designed the garden.
“The idea they came up with was to have an edible garden, and they set up the hot house so people here could take it over so it wasn’t our garden, it was for everyone to contribute to,” Mr Hobday said.
The garden also has wheelchair access and uses recycled products, including a bathtub water feature.
Melba’s Judy Duff said the garden gave residents and day program participants an interest and a sensory experience.
Melba Support Services is a not-for-profit community based organisation that supports people with a disability to lead everyday lives in the community.
