Hallo West Hobart Environment Networkers,
You
are doing wonderful things in your local community. Below is another
opportunity to make a difference to some of your community members.
I
work as a Project Officer for Still Gardening, specifically on the
Garden Mates program. Still Gardening is an initiative of the Healthy
Ageing network, supported by funding from the Australian Government
under the Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) program and
administered through Hobart City Council Community Development division.
We have our office on the bottom floor of Mather House (formerly 50 and
Better Centre) .
The
Garden Mates program provides practical help to older people in Hobart
and Glenorchy areas. We match Garden Mate volunteers to do regular
one-on-one work with older clients in their own garden. Typically
a ‘Mate’ might visit a client once a fortnight and work with them for
an hour or two. The companionship and confidence that this gives the
older person as well as real help with the heavier work , is life
changing for many older people who either give up gardening or feel
worried and overwhelmed by the garden chores they can no longer do.
Garden Mate support can mean the difference between an older person
living independently in their own home or moving into care.
Currently
we have about 20 clients in Hobart and Glenorchy areas waiting for
assistance, some of them in West Hobart or nearby. We need more
volunteers to meet the growing demand.
Take a look at the Still Gardening
website www.stillgardening.com.au (particularly the video of the Garden Mates program) and contact us on 62369349 or email stillgardening@hobartcity.com.au if you would like to volunteer or to find out more.
Thanks,
Juliet.
Juliet Chapman
Still Gardening Project Officer ( Tuesday Wednesday)
Lower level, Mather House
108 Bathurst St, Hobart
GPO Box 503 Hobart 7001
6236 9349
