Gardening project to benefit local seniors

Canterbury League Club’s donation of $2500 to the Tripoli and Mena Association’s Gardening for Health Project has equipped seniors with the necessary equipment to improve their much beloved garden.

Located in the backyard of the Lakemba senior day care centre, the garden has existed for several years in a makeshift capacity maintained by almost thirty seniors on a weekly basis.

Their efforts have proved extremely successful with the garden bearing a number of different plants, fruits and vegetables such as corn, coriander, mint, chilli and parsley. Impressively, this produce has been used to make meals for the entire day care group on occasion.

Canterbury’s donation ensures seniors have the appropriate resources to improve the sustainability of the garden, and therefore continue to reap the benefits from their participation in this project.

“Benefits of the project include active ageing, increased physical movement, socialisation, meeting new people, learning new skills, practicing existing skills, teaching others, positive learning, intellectual stimulation and independence,” said Roewaa Elsayed, an Arabic community worker at the Tripoli and Mena Association.

The Tripoli and Mena Association is a non-profit community-based organisation aiming to enhance the capacity of the Arabic-speaking community to participate in Australian society. Established in 1975 by a group of young Arabic-speaking migrants, the organisation offers the community several services including child care, mothers support groups and an Arabic language program.

“The benefits from this program are immeasurable. It is amazing how such a simple task like gardening can do so much for so many people. It is hoped that the donation will encourage the senior citizens to continue in their endeavours,” said Dr George Peponis OAM, Chairman of Canterbury League Club.