Plantmark and Multiplex recently joined forces to breathe new life into the garden and outdoor areas at Haven House Boronia, operated by the Lighthouse Foundation.
“Too often we are caught up in our privileged lives, and volunteering makes you reflect on our community and the world around us.”
Eva Bristow, Multiplex
An enthusiastic volunteer group from construction company Multiplex teamed up with the horticulture experts from Plantmark to carry out a workerbee at Haven House Boronia in Victoria. Through the Lighthouse Foundation the home provides therapeutic care to children and young people impacted by long-term neglect, abuse and homelessness.
The volunteers were tasked with removing overgrown trees, shrubs and noxious weeds from Boronia’s large garden, as well as high pressure hosing surfaces. “The day went really well,” says Mutiplex Team Captain Eva Bristow. “Everyone was there on time and prepared for the work ahead of us. By the days end we all felt like we had made a big impact of the property, making it visually more appealing, cleaner, safer, with more natural light to the house.”
Even rain couldn’t dampen the group’s team spirit. “We all worked well together including with the guys from Plantmark and Lighthouse, rotating jobs when required and helping each other out,” says Eva. “As well as making a small difference to the future young people of the Boronia house, we all really enjoyed ourselves. It’s something that makes you stop and reflect on issues outside of our busy world. Too often we are caught up in our privileged lives, and volunteering makes you reflect on our community and the world around us.”
Plantmark’s Kirk Bryant was impressed by the efforts of the volunteers. “The Multiplex team were charged with the tasks of chain-sawing, hedge trimming, pruning and raking an endless number of wheel barrow loads to fill two large skips of green debris,” he reports. “High pressure cleaning of all hard surfaces throughout the garden also improved the safety and aesthetic appearance of the landscape.”
Overall, it was a terrific team effort says Kirk. “No task was too big or too small for the Multiplex and Plantmark teams, with all team members helping each other and working together as a collective to complete the project goals.”
Want to gather a group and join a Property Industry Foundation workerbee for homeless youth? Find out more.
