“I hadn’t worked in a long time and private rental was taking all my income - I don’t really know what I would have done had I not come here...”
Growing up on a farming property in New South Wales, Housing Choices resident Wayne ‘grew’ his green thumb. The youngest of three boys, he tended the garden with his mother while his brothers learned how to run the land. “My mother and grandmother were great gardeners so I learnt a lot from them,” he said. Many years later, Wayne is now passing on that knowledge – and a lot of hands-on help and goodwill within Housing Choices’ Brisbane Street community. Since moving into his unit roughly 18 months ago, Wayne has donated many plants and a lot of time to enhance the community garden. “It started at the front when some of the neighbours wanted to do something about the area that was becoming overgrown and overwhelming,” Wayne explained. “They knew I had an interest in gardening – it just grew from there.”
With the garden just footsteps away from the front doors of several residents, Wayne said it was even more important to maintain and beautify the area to its potential. “People see things happening here [in the garden] and if what they see is good, it gives them pride and satisfaction,” he said. “It gives a good energy. While some people join in, not everyone is physically able and that’s absolutely fine.” Whilst he is giving a lot, Wayne says he feels grateful too – having come to Brisbane Street following an unsustainable private rental situation. “I hadn’t worked in a long time and private rental was taking all my income - I don’t really know what I would have done had I not come here...” he said.
“They knew I had an interest in gardening – it just grew from there.”
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Wayne in his garden.
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