At 63, Bri Smith, has found her own avenue to assist our community in the Green Connect movement, which has embraced the needs of the young people and refugees in the Illawarra.
“I was looking for new ventures when I retired and Green Connect was a worthy group evolving from SCARF (Strategic Community Assistance to Refugee Families).”
SCARF helped people build a sense of belonging, experience social and economic inclusion and access tools for independence. The Green Connect farm offers a welcoming, inclusive site with volunteers from all walks of life. The refugees bring their own cultural knowledge and develop new skills in their new adopted country.
“We all learn together, give our skills, learn new skills and enjoy each other’s company by establishing social links,” Bri says.
The aim of the organisation is to make a better, fairer world and provide transitioning and employment opportunities for refugees and youth.
“The development of a farm based on permaculture principles and a zero-waste service are particularly impressive. We are changing all the time and volunteers are always welcome.”
Bri’s passion for Green Connect is immediate and infectious.
“I often help with small tasks such as gardening on Tuesdays, with the majority of volunteers working Wednesday to Thursdays.
“Activities include vegetable bed preparation, planting, weeding and trimming of plants, but there are roles for volunteers, including photography for social media, light duties in the flower garden and helping with tours/activities. There are even university volunteers, who have an interest in herbal medicines.
“Everyone has skills and working with others in such an expansive project is such a delight. Most of the volunteers enjoy gardening and being in the outdoors.
“Most people leave with a smile on their face and a greater understanding of each other.”
Bri says there is real development over time.
“We have seen a great growth in pomegranate production and olive trees. Various gardens have been established with banana trees, feijoa plants, tangelos, plums and peaches.
“The friendship garden is another area in development where the community is welcome to plant various cultural plants from their homelands.”
Green Connect also fosters development of other not-for-profit groups, such as The Flagstaff Group, by providing activities and opportunities for involvement as well as some school refusers and preschool group participation.
“Quite apart from participating in farming practices, there are mud-puddles, sand-pits and crawling through water tanks. It is like an adventure playground for the children, which offers more than mere play.
“Children participate and experience the joy of plants, and can even feed pigs, visit chickens and learn about bees and honey.”
This all sounds like great fun, but Green Connect has an important purpose. It connects people, fostering important interactions and sells farm goods online to contribute to running costs. Vegetable boxes, along with fresh eggs, flowers, fruit and honey are sold online weekly, plus limited quantities of meat (a few times a year).
“It is particularly refreshing to see the refugees from Myanmar working with the flowers and producing beautiful bouquets. The bees, too, offer wonderful learning opportunities for children as well as producing tasty honey for sale,” Bri says.
She finds great satisfaction in volunteering.
“It gets me out of my 2515 bubble. We expand each other’s world just by being with each other.
“I have learned a great deal about gardens and even recently learned how to sharpen secateurs,
a very handy skill. I also really enjoy making jams and pickles that I willingly give away to the hard-working volunteers.”
Bri says most of the work is not demanding and she enjoys using her skills for a remarkable cause.
“Most people leave with a smile on their face and a greater understanding of each other.”
Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation Australia. Email janicecreenaune@gmail.com
