Rehabilitation for ABI facility garden

Gardenview, a rehabilitation facility for young adults with an acquired brain injury (ABI) has had a garden make-over, thanks to 40 Bunnings staff.

In only one day, the Bunnings crew, Gardenview residents, their families and friends and Royal Melbourne Hospital staff transformed the tired garden into a welcoming, colourful outdoor space.

As well as fresh plants, new planter boxes and a communal barbeque, the volunteers created a mosaic to brighten up the courtyard garden.

Each resident also had the opportunity to build a dovecote to be left in the garden, or taken as a memento.

Ben, a father of two, who has been undergoing rehabilitation at Gardenview for a year, said the new garden gave him a place to spend time with his two young daughters when they visit.

‘It will be wonderful.

‘They will be able to say they had a lovely day with Dad in the garden, not at the hospital,’ Ben said.

Fellow resident Marion is an avid gardener who misses the garden she used to tend before her stroke.

She was excited by the prospect of being able to plant a few vegetables and flowers in the new specially-raised planter boxes.

‘My daughter visits every week and we joke about going outside.

‘With the new garden, I’ll go out more.

‘I wouldn’t mind getting my hands dirty,’ Marion said.