The Kevin Heinze Garden Centre Inc. provides horticultural therapy
programs for children and adults with disability or disadvantage.
BACKGROUND
The Kevin Heinze Garden
Centre is a not-for-profit disability support organisation.
The late Kevin Heinze, who was a well known Melbourne gardening identity, provided the
initial idea and inspiration for this unique Australian Centre.
Kevin visited a garden for children with disabilities in England. After seeing this work,
Kevin believed that all children should be given the chance to take part in gardening
activities.
The Kevin Heinze Garden Centre provides the largest and longest running horticulture-based
therapy and recreation program in Australia.
The Kiwanis Club of Doncaster and Templestowe raised the funds to initiate the project in
1979. The Doncaster /Templestowe Council (now the Manningham City Council) negotiated a
lease on SEC land off Wetherby Road.
The Centre is run by a Committee of Management, staff and volunteers.
From the very first session, it was recognised that the essence of gardening for the
disabled lay in the interaction between participants and volunteers whilst sharing
gardening activities. Hence the Centre's motto "Helping People to Grow".
Emphasis is placed on participation and sharing, while at the same time making new
friends, learning and having fun.
The Centre and the many people he has helped, will always be grateful to Kevin for his
support and enthusiasm.
Everyone
benefits from horticultural therapy: plants help heal the mind, body & spirit.
Benefits
of attending our Centre include:
• Exercise
• Social stimulation, laughter and friendship.
• Sense of accomplishment
• Relaxation in a calm garden setting
• Opportunity to relearn skills
• Maintain, enhance and support ongoing therapy
• Stimulation of all senses in the garden
• Sense of well-being
• Feeling accepted in an open and equitable environment
SUPPORT
Many groups
provide KHGC with financial and hands-on support.
Manningham City Council provide an annual
grant for administration costs. The Kiwanis Club of Doncaster/Templestowe support the
Centre by helping with maintenance and construction projects. Many organisations and
community groups help financially or with donations of equipment or plants. Trust
companies provide grants for specific projects. A growing number of volunteers assist
participants with gardening activities, attending for a two hour session each week. Others
assist with maintenance.
THE HAVEN
by
Beryl Reeves, Volunteer.
The Address is Wetherby Road, Doncaster.
The place - The Kevin Heinze Garden Centre.
A project born of Kevin Heinze' vision.
Brought into being from Kiwanis infusion
of finance, manpower and empathy too.
With a cause so deserving and others so few.
Much we do now is a result of the groundwork
of those few volunteers who helped make
the scheme work.
When Helen Larkin was giving her best
and as a result it has stood the test.
It is known far and wide, and we all know why.
It's successful for here, there is no 'do or die'.
It's a haven where participants and volunteers alike
can visit regularly and get some respite
from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
How lucky we are - we've the chance to see.
The joy that comes from planting a tree,
or tilling the soil and planting some seeds.
Such simple pleasures fulfilling the needs,
of people disabled and at various stages.
Learning new skills - no matter what ages.
Long may it continue to practise the theory
that love and compassion is what we're all needing.
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