Gardens open to support charity

A COMMUNITY fundraiser about supporting health and education projects in Vanuatu is on next weekend in Bannockburn.

The Open Gardens, Open Hearts event allows the community to explore four open gardens with money raised going towards the Melanie Jewson Foundation.

The Melanie Jewson Foundation was founded in memory of Melanie who lost her life in 2004 in a car accident.

In 2003, she volunteered at Vila Central Hospital in Vanuatu and the foundation continues to support projects in Vanuatu which were close to Melanie’s heart.

“The reason that we are supporting Vanuatu is because Melanie and I travelled to Vanuatu and did some work there,” said Libby Jewson, Melanie’s mother.

“I was doing my masters and Melanie worked in the hospital.”

The organisation supplies nursing packs, numeracy packs and other equipment to the community.

“It supports health and education because of Mel’s passion for the people of Vanuatu,” said Ms Jewson.

“Our foundation is needs based so they articulate what it is that they need, and we respond to that.”

This is the first time the organisation has held an open garden since 2013 and Ms Jewson said it is an opportunity for the community to come together.

“The idea came initially after Mel was killed because there was a huge outpouring of grief and on her birthday, people came and helped build a garden,” she said.

“That garden still exists at our place, so part of the aim is to show people what’s happened in the garden.”

Tickets to all four gardens cost $30 and include Devonshire tea.

The Open Gardens, Open Hearts fundraiser will take place on Saturday 4 November and more information can be found at mjf.org.au.