Landscape Construction students from NSI's Ryde College last week completed a community garden project for the home care residents at the Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care (DADHC), Rydalmere.
Elizabeth Smith, NSI Ryde College Director and Manager Behaviour Services, Geoffrey Tyson and Principal Nurse and Manager Sing Ting officially opened the centre, celebrating the grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Eighteen students from Ryde College undertaking the Certificate III in Landscape Construction participated in the construction of the garden, completing the project over several weeks.
Designed to be an attractive recreation area within the home care grounds for residents, the garden design includes a range of tailor made features to meet the needs of clients at the home care centre.
The garden includes colourful plants at ground level, timber decking, stone paving and unitary paving, pergola, as well as a brick entertaining area with a new BBQ.
Sing Ting said the garden would ensure residents with special needs would have a readily accessible recreation space within the home care grounds.
“It’s important to understand how much the garden will mean to the residents here,” she explained.
“The residents now have a safe area close by within the grounds where they can enjoy the outdoors and have somewhere to spend time with their families.
“The patients here have really been through a lot, so it’s wonderful that they now have a beautiful garden here.”
“I’d like to thank TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute’s Ryde College students for making the garden possible. They have done a spectacular job.”
Landscape construction student Theodorus Balafas said it was great to be able to assist the local community.
“One of the best things you can possibly do in life is help someone else,” he said. “It’s been a fantastic experience, and on behalf of all the students we have really enjoyed building the garden.”
“It’s also been a good opportunity for us to put into practice everything we have learnt throughout the course.”