Garden gift sows legacy

By Shaun Inguanzo
CELEBRITY gardener Kevin Heinze has donated his personal garden to the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
Mr Heinze, 77, and wife Jill, 78, officially handed over their Montrose garden last week which contains a sentimental acorn tree planted in memory of his cancerstricken daughter, Kim, more than 30 years ago.
The Heinzes have since spent most of their lives raising $500,000 for cancer research following Kim’s death in 1974.
Mr Heinze said he utilised his expertise to educate school children on gardening, and also provided inspirational speeches to teach children that they can take control of their lives.
Funds were raised from these school visits when schools would hold dinners and various other events.
Mr Heinze’s garden is home not only to his daughter’s tree but also rhododendrons planted by past Rotary Club presidents. Mounted upon Kim Heinze’s tree is a plaque which will remain when the garden is opened to the public.
It reads ‘Her spirit lives on with this tree’.
To continue the garden’s legacy, Mr Heinze entrusted the council with the responsibility of preparing it for public display and maintaining it to its high standard.
The Heinzes said they decided to donate the garden to the council because they could not continue to maintain it properly.
“It had gotten too big for us,” Mrs Heinze said.
“We wanted to stay here because it is a good area but did not want to sell (the garden) and have houses built on it.”
Mr Heinze, who was born in Yarra Junction, is known by many people as the host of the ABC television gardening program Sow What which began in 1970 and ran for 20 years.
His garden backs onto the Montrose Recreation Reserve and consists of many varieties of native and exotic plants and shrubs, some common and some rare.
It also contains a vegetable patch and compost bins.
Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor David Hodgett praised Mr and Mrs Heinze for their generosity.
“Kevin and Jill have always been willing to lend a hand, give freely of their time and have supported many worthwhile causes,” he said.
“We feel we have come to know Kevin, inviting him into our homes when he presented Sow What not realising that one day his garden would be shared by each of us.”
Cr Hodgett said the handover was effective immediately and works would commence shortly to prepare the garden for public access, including its entrance from Montrose Recreation Reserve.