NEWS
By Linda Brennan
Have you been down the far end of Brunswick Street recently? A small oasis of green was spared from the floods and is flourishing at the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre next to the Bowls Club.
It’s a new garden makeover, installed by a proud “green team” with a special talent for achieving exceptional things. This amazing productive garden is a wonderful success story and not just because it’s growing fresh organic food for the local community.
The landscape team was a swish band of volunteers plus eight men who came from difficult circumstances. Four of the team installing this special spot were engaged by the 139 Club, having experienced homelessness and marginalisation. Four others were clients of the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre. While working on this garden, eight team members achieved their horticultural qualifications through TAFE under the guidance of landscape professional Kevin Boulton.
While gaining qualifications may not sound too remarkable, this is the first formal qualification for some of these fellows. The regular, enjoyable work has given them security and an income after being unemployed for some time.
For the new horticultural professionals on the team, this is not the end of the story though. One is continuing at TAFE and intends to go on the study design at uni, one has been employed as a trainee, three are studying additional to compliment their skills and two have been offered work by a local landscape maintenance contractor.
We wonder if maybe our very own Jamie Dury lookalike is about to grow out of this local team from New Farm? Who knows? Manager Rod Kelly from the 139 Club who made the project happen, says that “the Club will remain engaged with the guys for six months in a mentoring and support role”.
“I’ve never seen such a determined group of guys. They’ve turned up to work no matter what the weather has thrown at them, and they’ve been seriously committed to achieving their certificates. It’s been a great experience to have them on board,” says Rod.
He describes the clever design created by Kevin, as “allowing for access and seating so that even folks in wheelchairs, and those who couldn’t bend over could still enjoy the benefits of growing and tending foo.
“When we heard the Neighbourhood Centre wanted a community food garden, it was too good an opportunity to miss. They provided the space while we were able to pull it all together for them with Linda’s terrific support’. Centenary Landscapes also provided many landscape materials at cost price and Kennards generously provided all the machinery we needed to install the project.
Fiona, manager at the New Farm Neighbourhood centre, tells us that “the skilled work of the team and volunteers has seen raised beds, paths, fences, irrigation and drainage installed, completed with the expertise you’d expect from a seasoned landscapers.
“It’s a credit to all involved that even with the wettest December on record, the gardens have not only survived, but gone on to flourish. Their determination to do a good job and finish on time was amazing.”
If you peek in through the garden archway you’ll see a marvelous mix of traditional and exotic food plants growing luxuriously. They will provide varied and delicious harvest over the wet Queensland summer.
Above: Sean, David, Martin and Michael helped bring the garden to life.
Below: Some of the participants show off their horticulture certificates.
Bottom: Local state MP Grace Grace with participant Martin Muenzel (left) and 139 Club general manager Rod Kelly.
