New generation: Anabelle Barillaro, 8, and Oscar, 3, and Sarah Pearson help the garden grow.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The Wilmot Rd Community Garden received a facelift courtesy of Shepparton volunteers in part one of a two-stage project.
Sarah Pearson, who leads the Community Hub, made it her personal mission when she started the role to restore the garden, which was neglected during COVID-19 restrictions.
Cool beans: Rotary Club of Shepparton South member Geoff Rhodes helps plant vegetables.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Working in collaboration with Rotary Club of Shepparton South, Wilmot Rd Primary School, Notre Dame College and the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project, Ms Pearson pulled together 26 volunteers and the necessary funding to carry out the planned restoration.
Hard at work: Wilmot Rd Primary School staff member Lyn Ward seeds the garden beds.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Working over two days in September, the working bee volunteers turned 25 garden beds, fertilised and mulched them, before planting seedlings for vegetables and herbs in 19 of them.
Seeds planted include pumpkin, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and basil.
Green thumb: Rotary Club of Shepparton South member Meg Pethybridge planting basil.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Additional work included removing two garden beds to make way for the installation of a labyrinth, fixing the irrigation system and resealing the tops of the beds.
Ms Pearson praised the productivity of the volunteers, and said the work would ensure the garden became the relaxing place it was originally meant to be.
Local spirit: Shepparton residents enjoying their time out at the Wilmot Rd Community Garden.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“My hope is that the Wilmot Rd Community Garden is a safe and inviting place for members of the community to gather, meet and share and relax,” Ms Pearson said.
As for stage two, Ms Pearson said it would entail the seeding of the remaining garden beds with Australian native plants, thereby turning the garden into a half-botanic, half-market garden, as well laying down the labyrinth.
Gathering: The working bee was a collaboration between the Lighthouse Project, Wilmot Rd Primary School, Rotary Club of South Shepparton and the Community Hub.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“We’re waiting for the Australian bush plants, and once they arrive we are hoping to organise another working bee in November to finish the garden and the labyrinth. We would love any volunteers,” Ms Pearson said.
Digging deep: Rotary Club of Shepparton South member Andrew Lelliott getting his gardening groove on.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The garden is open to the public during the Community Hub hours, which are 8.30am to 3pm, Wednesday to Friday.
Additionally, the Community Hub is running a gardening program every Friday from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, and community members are welcome to the free event.
Hard at work: Rotary Club of Shepparton South member David Earle.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
