Golf and the garden

KPMG representative Peter O'Malley and Greater Dandenong mayor Roz Blades hand over the cheque to Alan Witham and Andrew O'Connor from Wallara. The money paid for a sensory garden and hoist system at Wallara's headquarters.KPMG representative Peter O’Malley and Greater Dandenong mayor Roz Blades hand over the cheque to Alan Witham and Andrew O’Connor from Wallara. The money paid for a sensory garden and hoist system at Wallara’s headquarters.

By Nicole Williams
WALLARA has opened a new sensory garden and installed a hoist system thanks to the City of Dandenong’s ‘Take A Swing for Charity’ Golf Day.
The fund-raising event, held in February, selected Wallara as the sole recipient of all funds, totalling $50,000.
The garden at the Dandenong headquarters was officially opened on Wednesday 8 June by Greater Dandenong mayor Roz Blades, Wallara CEO Phil Hayes-Brown and sponsors.
Mr Hayes-Brown said the organisation had promised to deliver two projects with the money – a sensory garden and the hoist system.
“We started working on the garden the day after the Golf Day,” Mr Hayes-Brown said.
“Gardens are really important for people who use the facility because they can interact with textures and sounds.”
But it is the hoist system, a suggestion by a participant’s mother, which has changed the lives of many people who use the facility.
It allows people with physical disabilities to walk unassisted and whenever they please.
“It’s very empowering,” Mr Hayes-Brown said.
“We work with over 400 adults and I think it has already been used by 15 adults across our services and will be used by other people outside our services as well.”
The process has also resulted in Wallara launching the Wallara Wish Foundation.
“We are funded by the government to provide basic services but we want to provide more than that,” Mr Hayes-Brown said.
“We want to show people what is possible through these charitable donations.”