Today we held the official opening of the Resident Indigenous kitchen garden.
It was wonderful to see so many faces here for the commencement of our Reconciliation week activities, with this year’s them ‘Now More than Ever’.
Aunty Dulcie Lewis proudly performed the Welcome To Country and explained the importance of Reconciliation Week and the effort we as Australians must all undertake to work together to achieve reconciliation in Australia.
Heywood Rural Health has been delighted to partner with Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation and in particular Aunty Janice Lovett and Ben Church to create a new indigenous garden setting for use by patients, visitors, residents and family.
Both Ben Church and HRH Workplace Coach Lauren Newman carefully selected a wide range of indigenous plants which were planted by HRH residents in recent weeks. In time, we plan to incorporate this bush tucker into resident cooking activities.
To commence the official opening and welcome, Ben undertook a smoking ceremony and explained what each native plant represented and how each plant linked to the Aboriginal Elders and the inspiring youths of today. Each person then embraced the smoke to assist in cleansing the area and the people of bad spirits and to promote the protection and wellbeing of visitors.
The new garden is a perfect replacement to what was an ugly and disused area along the entrance to our residential aged care home.
We also introduced two blackwood native slabs to the garden area with handprints placed on them by HRH staff, volunteers, Winda-Mara Aboriginal people, consumers and residents of HRH.
The meaning of the handprints is “Making a Difference Together”. Our Health Service and community partners believe that by holding hearts in our hands with empathy, Love & Respect, we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and connected community where everyone thrives.
The garden was planted with indigenous edible foods, again thank you to Ben Church and Aunty Janice Lovett for advising us on plants and themes. Some plants include, Lemon Myrtle, Noon flower, Bauer spinach, Bush leeks, Zoomin, Imperata Cylinurea, Costal salt bush, Sea purslane, Warigal greens, River Mint, Muntries, Old Man Sneeze Weed.
We welcome the transformation into a warm and friendly space that welcomes residents, families and visitors to sit and enjoy the scenery and the smell of the wonderful native plants.
