Gardening grows confidence

A member of the Southern Cross Care community plays an important role in an Adelaide volunteer group that has raised over $100,000 for different charities across Australia and around the world.

Unley Gardener’s Plant Rescue Volunteer and Southern Cross Care Home Care client, Viv Weston, has been with the group for 20 years and said she loves every minute of it.

“I had retired... and I wanted to do something active...and it gives you positivity,” Viv said.

“It (also) gives you real confidence too, and even during the first lockdown I got the confidence to do some painting around the house.” “And now I’ve done the whole outside of my house - all by myself.

The group is Unley Gardener's Plant Rescue, a group of volunteer gardeners who have been together since 2003. They collect unwanted plants from people who are either changing or downsizing their gardens. These plants are re-potted and nurtured and then sold during the group’s Spring, Summer or Autumn sales.

Since 2003, they’ve raised over $100,000 for a range of charities including the Animal Welfare League, Julia Farr Centre, Autism SA, Hutt Street Centre, Catherine House, and Bushfire Relief.

Viv receives occasional lawn mowing, occasional window cleaning and fortnightly cleaning. She says it’s been wonderful because it helps her look after her own garden.

“I used to do everything and then I realised I just couldn’t do it anymore because I would feel really red,”Viv said.

"But now I know I don’t have to vacuum and I have more energy and me for gardening, it’s just wonderful.”

Unley Gardeners Plant Rescue is always looking for rare and different plats, for further information on, please contact Bev Glenn on 8357 808 635

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