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Dirty Hands Happy Hearts
- Founded 2003
- President: Julie Robinson
- Secretary: Basil Natoli
- Treasurer: Basil Natoli
This newly formed Auxiliary will support the hospital's garden program.
Annual Report
It has been a very big and exciting time in the Children’s Garden at the Royal Children’s Hospital this year. We have had to work hard and creatively in the garden because of the drought. We did get exemptions for hand watering but like other garden lovers turned off the watering system several months ago.
Our plants have become very resilient and only tough varieties will be planted in the future to replace those we have lost. The garden still remains a place of constant change and surprise for all those children and family members who spend countless hours in what has become a botanical oasis for all to enjoy.
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, our patron, has continued to support us in the development of this unique, ‘hands on’ program. Several of our gardeners (patients from 3 East Adolescent ward) were delighted to give her a guided tour of the garden last spring. We are extremely grateful for the ongoing donations from individuals and organisations whose assistance and support is invaluable.
As a result of their generosity, we now have a wonderful, rustic shelter in the garden, providing much needed shade in the summer and respite from the rain all year round. A new sign welcomes families into the garden and once inside the gate we have a menagerie of animals for the children to enjoy. Our cow is particularly loved by all and was given to us by the very hard work of Judith, Claire, and Olivia from the Donating Divas Young Set.
Our sponsor Amgrow has continued to be incredibly generous and supportive and has donated much of their award winning “
We have a fantastic and enthusiastic band of volunteers who continue to make the garden the very special place it is. No job is too big or too small for Kenn, Yvonne, Glenys, Judy, and Veronica. We continue to raise the profile of this wonderful place of respite in often such a medical and therefore stressful environment. Our gardeners range in age from under two to grandparents, with all making our time in the garden very special. During the next year, we hope to broaden the program, including bringing art into the garden and hopefully this will bring more children and families from the hospital into the garden.