Hats off to our Awesome Eight who took out second place in the Succulent Display at the Bendigo Agricultural Show.
The group created their beautiful display at their Friday session at The Cottage in Bendigo.
And staff at Uniting AgeWell’s Seven Hills Respite House in White Hills laid on tea to congratulate the CHSP Day Respite Friday group on their achievements.
What makes the achievement even more significant is that the succulents were grown by one of the clients, Mary Graca, who lives with dementia.
Mary grows them at home, and she and her daughter, Liz, brought them in, with the leftover plants being shared out amongst clients and grateful staff.
CHSP Team Leader Cheryle Hague says they had arranged for a florist to visit the group at the cottage a couple of times over the year, to give them lessons on flower arranging. And the tips have clearly worked!
Cheryle says the Friday Gardening Group, as they often call themselves, are all green-fingered gurus who love the frequent bus trips out to explore the beautiful floral events in the area. Cheryle says the group always love heading out in a bus to take in the Bendigo Annual Tulip and Bendigo Orchid displays, as well as often visiting nurseries in the area.
Paula Richards, Program Manager, Loddon Mallee Community Programs says the group was tickled pink with their second place win and are already talking about entering the competition next year!
“It’s a very prestigious competition - they did incredibly well!” says Paula.
Members of the group arrive at 10am and leave at 3pm, providing much needed respite for their carers. They do activities and enjoy a hot lunch as well as morning and afternoon tea.
Volunteers help run the program - one volunteer is needed each day - so if you would like to enrich the lives of older people and your own, there are places for you to sign up as a volunteer!
For further information about the program phone (03) 5454 2100.