The garden is transforming under the stewardship of Best production manager, Danny Middleton, with the recent donation of shade sails to protect young and old from the sun from Bunnings Inverell and garden plots enriched by a donation from local Ashgrow Compost Blends. 

There is a new barbecue for all to enjoy given by McLean Care and members of the Inverell Men’s Shed helping to erect the sails and build a portable chook run for the elderly to enjoy the friendly hens.

Little gardeners from KCL Preschool arrived along with those who are looking after our eldest gathered on Thursday to celebrate the new additions. 

Residents from McLean in community, residential and dementia care now have their own plot within the garden. 

Sue Thomson, McLean chief executive officer (CEO) said the garden offers a valuable opportunity, opening doors of living for their clients and residents.

“This is about quality of life, and when we talk about quality of life, the measurement of this is not just simply if you’re well. 

“It’s about things that make you well, like being able to participate, being able to feel like you’re still part of the society and contributing to something,” she said. McLean retirement services manager Robyn Dixon said she saw great value in the growing number of local organisations joining the effort. 

“It’s a true community project in every sense of the word,” Ms Thomson agreed. 

Toddling through the group were KCL preschoolers who excitedly fed some of the hens, gathered eggs and grabbed handfuls of soil. 

“You’re looking at the kids here and you’re talking about the dementia participants here, and you’re covering every facet of the community with this one activity,” said BEST Employment CEO, Penny Alliston-Hall.

“Something like this, it’s totally seamless because everybody can do the same things, and inter-relate, doing the same things,” Ms Thomson said.