Kate’s community garden project has grown into something bigger than she ever imagined.
What began as a small activity in a front yard is now an initiative bringing people together across neighbourhoods. “It’s been a success beyond my expectations,” she said. “The support from Tyson and the CHL team has been extraordinary.”
Kate has been a long-term CHL customer but due to planned redevelopment, she had to relocate from her older unit to a more appropriate refurbished ROSAS property. This all occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience prompted Kate to educate herself on housing, which led to her having questions she wanted addressed. CHL offered a consultation session with two CHL representatives over morning tea.
“The CHL team member welcomed us and spoke with empathy and clarity. She knew our rights and understood what we cared about: gardens, transportation access and being heard. She made me feel like I was heard.”
After the consultation session and viewing the property, Kate received a phone call from the same CHL team member: “If you want it, it’s yours.” Kate accepted alongside other customers, with CHL covering moving expenses.
She hasn’t looked back. “I genuinely think it’s one of the best places to live in South Australia.”
The community garden came about after a conversation with a neighbour who was mowing the lawn. The community decided they were going to plant a veggie patch. At the next community event, they shared their plan with Tyson. “We didn’t ask for help, we just went ahead and did it,” Kate says. “But Tyson ended up digging two large patches and together we planted orange marigolds, silverbeet, parsley, chives, rosemary, lettuce and lavender. It felt amazing to see it all come to life.”
Since then, the community has painted bird boxes, built beehives from sticks and tin, decorated Stobie poles and gathered for events on the street. Residents are proud of their efforts and the garden has become a symbol of what’s possible when people come together. “It’s not just about housing, it’s about people,” Kate said. “We’ve created something special. Every time we gather for an event, we’re not just building a garden, we’re building friendships and a stronger community.”
Thanks to Kate’s passion and Tyson’s unwavering support, the Winston Court neighbourhood continues to thrive, with new ideas and initiatives popping up all the time. For Kate, it’s a dream come true – a place to call home and a place where she can help others find the same sense of connection and belonging. We’re proud to support residents like Kate, who go above and beyond to make their communities better places to live.
