Mission Australia’s aged care facility, Benjamin Short Grove was announced the winner of a Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Community Spirit and Inclusion Award on Saturday night.
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Acknowledged for its gardening program at the Tidy Town awards, the Huntley Road facility provides aged care for people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage in the Orange and Cabonne Shire regions.
In the category for populations over 20,000, Building Manager Paul Davidson’s effort was recognised for implementing a program which allowed residents to participate in the construction and development of the facility’s garden.
Mr Davidson said many of the residents had never been involved in this type of activity in their life.
“The pleasure of planting a seed, watching it grow and flower gave them a sense of fulfilment and purpose,” he said.
“Winning prizes [in the Orange Agricultural Show] has certainly boosted their self-esteem and gave a sense of ownership and pride in their gardens.”
As part of the initiative, horticulturalist Elizabeth Docking from Royal Botanic Garden Sydney conducted workshops with residents to teach how to propagate plants, grow seedlings and create artwork which now features in the facility’s new garden.
She accepted the award at a dinner hosted by Keep Australia Beautiful NSW and Orange City Council at the Ex-Services’ Club.
“From the beginning we could see that the Benjamin Short Grove Aged Care Facility garden had the bones to become a really special place for the residents and the Community Greening outreach program,” Mrs Docking said.
The 2018 Tidy Town Award was presented to Cessnock, qualifying the town to represent NSW in the Keep Australia Beautiful National Tidy Towns Awards.
The Tidy Towns program recognises and rewards the accomplishments of regional councils and their communities, many of whom are volunteers actively working towards making their regional communities a prime model for sustainable practices.
The award ceremony was held in Orange as the city won Tidy Towns 2017.
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