Aged-care residents in Kalgoorlie-Boulder embrace gardening as local generosity funds raised garden beds

Wheelchair-bound aged-care residents in Kalgoorlie-Boulder have the chance to become green thumbs as community donations fund raised garden beds. Residents of Victoria Park Nursing Home helped plant an array of herbs and vegetables on Friday after the home received donations to buy seven accessible garden beds. Southern Cross Care nursing home manager Cheryl Hahn said the garden beds were made possible by about $5000 in funds raised by Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s Inner Wheel Club. “The most important thing here is we’re not a facility, we’re a home, and for them, gardening makes residents feel like they’re back home,” Ms Hahn said. “It makes the environment here remind them of what they used to do before they ended up in an aged-care facility, and it’s just marvellous. “The residents were overwhelmed with the generosity of the Kalgoorlie community. “To be able to raise $5000 is amazing, and our little community here were just taken aback by the generosity of what they wanted to do to help us.” The nursing home also received dozens of donated plants from Bunnings Kalgoorlie, with the shop’s garden expert Jessica Bergmeier and activity organiser Charess Molenda joining residents on Friday to plant them. “I think an enormous thanks need to go to the community in Kalgoorlie who go to support and help the aged care, especially Bunnings and the Inner Wheel Club,” Ms Hahn said. “A lot of the Kalgoorlie community have inputted to this venture by their donations or by buying a sausage sizzle.”