A blooming fantastic sensory garden!

The Rotary Club of Mandurah Districts, WA, was recently asked to establish a sensory garden at Coolibah Care, a retirement village in Mandurah. The club jumped at the prospect and, with assistance of club members, PDGs John Kevan and Melodie Kevan set about coordinating the upgrade of a rundown garden at Jarrah House.

“We have enjoyed providing this facility for our older community members,” said President Deb Atkins. “Coolibah Care has now asked us to look at another area that will enhance the lives of those in retirement.”

Residents now have the opportunity to see, feel, touch and smell flowers in the sensory garden, which is especially beneficial for those with mobility, sensory or cognitive impairments.

Inviting outdoor spaces are important for residents’ wellbeing. To enter a courtyard and experience sitting in the sun, to tend elevated garden beds, or enjoy the touch and smell of the new plants and shrubs is extremely beneficial.

Rotary invited the Mandurah Men’s Shed to make two mobile, elevated garden boxes that can be accessed by those in wheelchairs. They also crafted a beautiful jarrah park bench for residents and their visitors. QA Plumbing made the steel support frames for the garden beds.

Two sets of small tables and chairs and a new barbecue were also part of the upgrade.

Coolibah Care hosted an opening of the Rotary Sensory Garden, with the Rotary Club of Mandurah Districts president and members in attendance. The retirement village’s chair and CEO thanked the club for its contribution, and acknowledged that the sensory garden will benefit residents for many years.

The garden beds with their spring flowers looked blooming fantastic!