COMMUNITY engagement, donations and a team of dedicated volunteers has seen Bunbury’s largest shared garden continue to grow.
The man behind the project is John Thomson who was recognised last week by the South Bunbury Rotary Club for creating Thommo’s Community Garden.
He received the first Malcolm Robertson award which recognises a person who has initiated and developed a community service project in the wider Bunbury area.
Mr Thomson is humble about his achievements and said he had taken on his brother Colin Thomson’s wishes to develop the garden.
“Before he passed away he said he would like me to take over the garden, and one day I came out and found him collapsed in the middle of the garden that was still in the process of being built,” he said.
“This garden is all about the community helping the community and I know he would be proud of what we have achieved.”
There at six members on the committee who help run the garden but Mr Thomson is there every morning, maintaining and welcoming education groups who come to maintain and grow their garden.
The garden was started in February 26, 2009 and now sees 11 organisations come to grow their garden and learn about horticulture.
It would not have been possible without the donations from businesses including the soil, fertilisers, water talks and equipment.
“The lawn mower broke down and we sent it over to the prison to have them reconstruct the engine and that kept it going,” he said.
The garden has chooks which provide farm fresh eggs every morning as well as a warm house where the seedlings are grown.
Mr Thomson has built veggie patches that accommodate those in wheel chairs and with physical disabilities.
The next project in the pipeline is a mini golf course and an expansion of veggie patches to allow for more community groups to participate.
Mr Thomson said he loves spending time in the garden and it was rewarding being able to make a different in people’s lives.
