Nambucca community grow together

Nambucca’s UnitingCare and Uniting Church congregation have joined forces to develop a Growing Together Community Garden project.

UnitingCare Community Development Manager Romayne Page said the garden, which is located at the old Fire Station block, is the talk of the town already.

“The locals have started to notice its changing appearance,” Ms Page said.

“It’s been a difficult site to work with because it’s sloping, but we have used this to our advantage. It has allowed us to divide this into different sections and include a ramp to cater for the elderly and disabled.”

The project will involve local community groups for the remaining works including a bush tucker corner, chicken house, water feature, swing, and murals.

“The community involvement has been fantastic. We’ve had input from the local Mens Shed, Nambucca Primary School students and the Youthies,” Ms Page said.

“We hope to eventually be able to feed members of our community using the produce grown within the garden.”

The garden aims to connect older people with the community by having local seniors program participants attend and share their knowledge.

“Bringing different generations together is an important aspect of this project,” Ms Page said.

“We aim to increase dementia patient’s capacity to experience joy when they participate in the activities here.”

Ms Page thanked ETC for their donation of $15,000 to help fund the equipment and resources needed.

“The project wouldn’t have got off the ground without this kick start from ETC,” Ms Page said.

“I’d like to sincerely thank ETC for not only giving us the grant, but for being really engaged throughout the whole process. To know that ETC is backing the community is an amazing thing,” Ms Page said.

Find out how you can get involved by contacting Romayne Page at UnitingCare on (02) 6582 8241.

ETC Director Graeme Singleton said it had been a pleasure to be able to support UnitingCare.

“The ETC Community Support Fund is designed to help organisations improve the social and economic development of local communities,” Mr Singleton said.

“Since 1989, ETC has placed over 54,500 Australians into jobs, trained more than 27,000 people, helped over 37,000 small businesses to start-up and grow, and contributed in excess of $25 million to the local communities in which we operate.”