In full boom

Published: 

6 December 2024 1:58PM

‘I’ve got a lot of flowers at the front for people to enjoy, and then at the back I grow veggies, which I share with others in the complex.’

Brenda, 91, spends 3 full days a week working in the gardens around her unit and throughout the wider Clontarf social housing complex she calls home.

She also spends 1 morning a week helping to maintain the large herb garden in the Redcliffe Botanic Garden, a collection of about 500 species of culinary, medicinal, industrial, and native herbs widely regarded as one of the best in Queensland.

Brenda won first prize in the Edible Garden category for the Moreton Bay region in the 2023 My Home Awards, and said the win was ‘a nice surprise and very satisfying’.

Growing up in West Australia as the second-eldest of 12 children, Brenda said gardening was a vital skill learnt early.

‘Dad worked a lot of different jobs, on the roads, in the railway, but always grew vegetables because we never had much and it was a necessity to grow things for ourselves,’ she said.

‘Then I married Harold, a wheat and sheep farmer, and I got used to doing a lot of things for myself because we had no electricity, no running water, no phone, nothing, just out in the bush.’

Brenda’s garden has become more than just a source of food and beauty; it’s a place where she continues to connect with others and contribute to her community. It’s a testament to the resilience and generosity that have been constants throughout her life.

My Home Awards

The My Home Awards celebrate connections to home, community and culture, and the positive contributions of Queensland public housing tenants.

The awards encourage tenants to keep active, connect with their neighbours and community, and share their stories and creativity.

If you or someone you know needs housing help

Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or contact your local Housing Service Centre.

If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, contact the Homeless Hotline for free on 1800 474 753 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Find out more about housing help and support.