Getting stuck in for others

Not many people in their eighties mow their own lawn – let alone someone else’s. Tauranga octogenarian Bob Parry does it for a community garden that feeds those most in need of support.

“I saw it advertised in the paper, and yes, I mentioned it to Bob and he said: ‘Yeah we will give it a go’,” says Bob’s wife Sharon Parry. “Now that was about seven years ago.” en each Friday morning the volunteers turn up for garden maintenance.

As such, Bob, 84, and Sharon, 81, have proved to be a massive help in keeping Bayfair Gardens running, says coordinator Jo Stock.

Bob mows the lawns while Sharon helps maintain the garden, from pulling weeds to taking home tea towels from ‘smoko’ to wash and return.

“We couldn’t do without them,” says Jo, who is in her eighties herself – and always on the lookout for new hands to help out.

Surviving o the help from passionate volunteers since 1994, Bayfair Gardens is a community initiative to grow and supply produce to Tauranga Community Foodbank week-in week-out.

Each Tuesday is harvest day – rain or shine. Afterwards, a foodbank van pulls in to collect the vegetables – which feed families who need assistance in this high cost-of-living world.

Sharon and Bob help out on a Friday but Sharon will often pop down on the weekends to do some weeding while Bob gets cracking on the lawnmower and the garden edges.

Unfortunately the ongoing bad weather has made their jobs di cult lately, prolonging the usual lawn mowing back two weekends and weeds popping up all over the show.

But Sharon is happy to help out at the gardens – rain or shine. “I think it’s a very good incentive, because that’s actually what we do – is grow, plant, weed and sow for the foodbank.”

Bob also loves getting behind what he thinks is a great cause, helping the community of Tauranga.

“It’s not really for our own bene t but you know if there’s any surplus we get some now and then, but not a lot.” www.bti.ac.nz Start your career and follow your passion Study to be a Teacher, Social Worker, or Counsellor with us and help to make a difference in your community www.bti.ac.nz 0800 BETHLEHEM applications@bti.ac.nz

“We enjoy the company really; they are a good crew [of volunteers] and we have lots of laughs. It’s nice to be able to do something that’s going to bene t the community,” say the couple.

If you’d like to join them and help out Tuesday and/or Friday mornings, call e Hillier Centre at e Mount for details. Phone: 07 575 9709.

Startcareer and follow your passion a Teacher, Social Worker, or Counsellor with us help to make a difference in your community www.bti.ac.nz 0800 BETHLEHEM applications@bti.ac.nz career Start your career and follow your passion Study to be a Teacher, Social Worker, or Counsellor with us and help to make a difference in your community www.bti.ac.nz 0800 BETHLEHEM applications@bti.ac.nz