Ken Kelly, a retired landscaper, has been giving his time to upgrade the gardens around the centre and work with clients who share his enthusiasm for the outdoors.

“Working with Ken has given me a real sense of purpose. Being able to create something and see things grow is incredibly rewarding,” Mr Robertson said.

“I’ve learnt a lot about soil propagation, drainage, the importance of location, what grows well together and what perhaps shouldn’t go together.”

Mr Kelly said he was prompted to help out at the centre, after receiving treatment at Calvary Riverina Hospital.

“I had prostate cancer and was connected with the cancer services at Calvary Riverina Hospital. I am really grateful for what staff did for me, so when the opportunity came up to create more welcoming spaces around the hospital campus I jumped at the opportunity,” Mr Kelly said.

Mr Kelly came up with a number of concepts before getting to work. What started as one garden bed has grown to more than half a dozen new outdoor spaces around Calvary Riverina Drug and Alcohol Centre.

The gardens are a place for clients to come, mediate and reflect on their recovery.

While the work has been rewarding, Mr Kelly said being able to share his passion of gardening with the clients has been his favourite part.

“I’ve been a landscaper all my life and to be given the chance to impart some of that knowledge and just be there for the clients so they have a friend through their recovery has, I hope, been beneficial for both of us,” Mr Kelly said.

Calvary Riverina Drug and Alcohol Centre Nurse Unit Manager, Belinda Waugh, said watching the clients grow more confident in their landscaping skills and within themselves has been amazing to see.

“Ken has made our outside areas more welcoming and calming, but most importantly he has played a really important role in the recovery of the clients he has been working with,” Ms Waugh said.

“Ken has been such a big part of building up Tim’s confidence so much so that it has helped Tim go out and get some casual work.”

“I absolutely want to continue to pursue landscaping.” Mr Robertson added.