Billabong Garden Complex

By Caitlyn Grant

Feb 24, 2022

Hands on: Stephen Laffan propagating a plant. Photo by Megan Fisher

The plants of Shepparton’s Billabong Garden Complex are often more than meets the eye.

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They’re cultivated through a specific process to survive the harsh conditions of the Goulburn Valley ‒ created through great nurturing, passion and knowledge ‒ and many have been fostered by support employees of ConnectGV.

Green thumb: The day was chock full, filling a mass order. Photo by Megan Fisher

The organisation’s horticultural propagation program hires 11 supported employees, giving opportunities to local people living with a disability.

Through the program, the employees are deeply involved in the lifespan of the plants at the complex and luckily, each has quite the green thumb.

Garden master: Ben Devening has been working at the complex for more than six years. Photo by Megan Fisher

Nursery manager Tracy Lamont said the plants were all grown on premises, each having a different, intricate process to follow.

“Our support employees are involved in the whole process, from propagating the cuttings, moving them through the different stages, all the way to getting the orders ready to go — they learn a range of skills,” she said.

Sea of green: The plants in the weathering phase of the process. Photo by Megan Fisher

Ben Devening has been making the trip to work from Cobram several times a week for more than six years, starting after finishing school.

He said while at times the program was hard work, he had been rewarded with a lot of growth, especially in his own garden at home.

Growing: Ben Grapentin getting his hands dirty. Photo by Megan Fisher

“It has been good, it gets me out of the house and moving around a lot more and being able to see everyone,” he said.

“Plus I have learnt a lot of the plant names along the way, not that I could remember all of them.”

Mr Devening was one of six from the horticultural program working on Wednesday, using their magic to put together a sizeable order to be transferred across the state to another nursery, one of what is usually around 10 per week.

Ms Lamont said the employees had gained valuable skills through the program and all genuinely loved what they did.

Cultivating: A green thumb making sure the plants are up to scratch. Photo by Megan Fisher

“Sometimes what increases the ability for people with a disability is independence, so that’s what I try to strive for ‒ to assist in overcoming the adversities of each of their disabilities,” she said.

“We have employees who come from Cobram, so they’re on the bus at 6am and not home until sometimes 7pm, it’s pretty dedicated.

“It’s not all about plants, it’s more about learning.”

The complex will soon house a learning centre to be used not only for ConnectGV, but the wider community.

With a fundraising gala coming up on Friday, March 18, to fit out the learning centre, it is expected to open in the coming months.