I left England for Sydney in September. It was a career move for my husband, and our 20-year-old daughter was feeling adventurous and decided to come, too. However, just before leaving England, my 79-year-old mother suffered a stroke (中风). Being strong and independent, she continued to live at home with the help of social services. But she couldn't look after the garden. I thought how wonderful it would be if there was an organization offering volunteer help. Friends asked me what I planned to do in Australia, and I told them I would be looking for a volunteer position with a gardening organization. Imagine my surprise when I found just the organization I had been looking for—Easy Care Gardening (ECG)!
There are several reasons why I volunteer for ECG. Firstly, as a newcomer to Australia I meet many great people who, like me, volunteer some of their time. We cover a large age range, but all love gardens and helping others.
Secondly, through working with ECG I have been lucky enough to explore Sydney's North Shore that I might not have had the opportunity to visit otherwise.
Finally, there are all those wonderful people who we call "clients (客户)", but are more like friends when we visit them often and help with their gardens. What great people I have met, and stories they have to tell—the family histories, where they come from and the reasons for immigrating to Australia. I find it a privilege(特权) to have access to private gardens which, in many cases, have been the joy of their owners for many years. Each one is individual and reflects the character, needs and the history of each family. Indeed, the gardens reflect the historical background of Sydney.
