PATIENTS are growing and picking a variety of fruit and vegetables at The Mornington Centre thanks to a nearby hardware chain.
Bunnings Warehouse Mornington staff dropped by recently to donate seedlings and help out in the centre’s three sensory gardens.
Peninsula Health’s 90-bed geriatric evaluation and management centre in Separation Street, provides specialist medical, nursing and allied health services mainly for people with health care conditions associated with ageing, memory and thinking problems, chronic illness or disability.
Working alongside the Bunnings staff, patients Allan Brilliant and Melissa Schaller turned over the soil with fresh mulch and watered the Flinders Ward sensory garden beds.
Diversional therapist Maureen Donovan thanked the store’s team helping to create a greener landscape in the centre’s outdoor spaces.
“When you are in hospital for any length of time and you have thinking and memory problems, then to have some occupation is really important in getting patients off the ward,” she said.
“We know that being outside, getting in touch with nature, and seeing things grow, is so important for people’s mental and physical health, especially for those who may be facing long periods on the wards.”
Jenny Mann, of Bunnings, said has seen the difference made by each donation as the sensory gardens transformed over the years.
“We really enjoy coming out and seeing the difference this garden is making for the staff and the patients here,” Ms Mann said.
“Every year we will come down with bags of potting mix, some vegetable seedlings and also gardening tools, to keep these gardens looking their best as the seasons change.
“The produce is looking healthy and well and this spot here on Flinders ward really gets a great amount of sun which is great.”
First published in the Mornington News – 30 March 2021
