IF there’s one place in Lake Boga where spirits are soothed and all things Covid can (almost) be forgotten, it’s the town’s flower-filled community garden, a lush sanctuary for anyone needing some time out of the house.
An abundance of plants, art projects, and various smaller gardens has kept Lake Boga residents of all ages – from seniors, to the Sea Scouts Club – calm and creative during the Victorian lockdowns.
“The garden is an open and welcoming space, and we just make it up as we go along,” said volunteer Carol Webb.
“The little ones come with their families and we do some things with the school, and the Lake Boga Sea Scouts Club Section.
“There are two Filipino boys and the oldest one, Allen, is doing his adventurers badge – I asked him how many hours he’s got on his badge and he said, ‘Four, but can I keep coming? I really like it here!’ “
With about nine different little gardens, young and old come together regularly to do weeding, planting and painting.
“We’re doing a project at the moment involving the primary school, and we’re going to plant another 40 trees and shrubs at the skate park, and try and keep them all watered,” Ms Webb said.
The Lake Boga Sea Scouts Club Section used the Queen’s Birthday weekend to install their paintings of frogs at the club house.
“They did really well, they nailed them together (on posts) and planted them in the garden,” Ms Webb said.
Lockdowns have been particularly hard for our seniors, and Ms Webb said the garden had provided a much-needed sanctuary.
“During Covid it’s been really important because a lot of the ladies are widows, they’re home alone,” Ms Webb said.
“They go down to the garden and they weed for a while, and people go walking their dogs.
“If they didn’t come here, they’d be alone.”
The garden is run on the backs of volunteers, and everything it encompasses has been gifted by the community.
“We started around the base of the silos. We’ve been running as a community garden – just volunteers, and self-funded – and it’s just grown,” Ms Webb said.
“The community really supports it. We meet every Monday morning at about 10am, and our average age is 70.
“There’s a little tot that comes with his grandparents – he rides on the back of his grandpa’s bike.”
