A COMMUNITY fundraiser about supporting health and education projects in Vanuatu is on next weekend in Bannockburn.<\/p>\n
The Open Gardens, Open Hearts event allows the community to explore four open gardens with money raised going towards the Melanie Jewson Foundation.<\/p>\n
The Melanie Jewson Foundation was founded in memory of Melanie who lost her life in 2004 in a car accident.<\/p>\n
In 2003, she volunteered at Vila Central Hospital in Vanuatu and the foundation continues to support projects in Vanuatu which were close to Melanie\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason that we are supporting Vanuatu is because Melanie and I travelled to Vanuatu and did some work there,\u201d said Libby Jewson, Melanie\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was doing my masters and Melanie worked in the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
The organisation supplies nursing packs, numeracy packs and other equipment to the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt supports health and education because of Mel\u2019s passion for the people of Vanuatu,\u201d said Ms Jewson.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur foundation is needs based so they articulate what it is that they need, and we respond to that.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat garden still exists at our place, so part of the aim is to show people what\u2019s happened in the garden.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tickets to all four gardens cost $30 and include Devonshire tea.<\/p>\n