Tenant stories

Alan's garden inspires growth and community move gives him independence and helps him connect with his community

For Alan, his garden is more than just a source of food - it's a source of joy, health, and community connection.

Alan has transformed his small block into a thriving assortment of vegetables and greenery.

'It gives me exercise, keeps me fit, and supplies me with plenty of good vegetables,' Alan said.

Alan’s gardening journey began with lessons from his mother, who taught him the basics.

Since then, he’s relied on trial and error and advice from others to improve his garden.

One key to his success is nourishing the soil with homemade compost from his worm farm.

Alan also shares his passion with others through a local gardening group.

Each month, about 30 gardeners come together to exchange produce, advice, and support and have a cup of tea and talk about their gardens.

The impact of Alan’s garden is felt in the local community.

One day, a stranger stopped to thank him for inspiring them to start their own garden.

'You never know how you help other people,' Alan reflected.

Watch Alan’s video to see how his garden creates connections in his community.

Homegrown happiness

Gomeroi man Chris has called Proserpine home for 2 years.

‘Oh, I love me little unit, mate, and this mob around here.’

As part of the 2023 My Home Awards, Chris won first prize for the What My Home Means to Me category and was named runner-up for the Edible Garden category in the Mackay region.

‘It’s nice and quiet. I’m tucked away down here with my chooks – Peanut, Annie and Boss, my goldfish Gilbert and my veggie garden. The neighbours are lovely,’ Chris said.

His lush veggie garden, which provides not only for himself but also for his neighbours, showcases the sense of connection and self-sufficiency he’s cultivated in Proserpine. Living in this close-knit community has brought Chris a sense of peace and purpose. He enjoys being able to share the fruits (and veggies) of his labour.

‘With the price of food these days, I grow enough for me and to share with the 4 old ladies here.

'We socialise and get along, and they’re always baking me up something – cakes, bikkies, scones. They’re lovely old girls. It’s a good set-up.’

He laughed when describing how Peanut, Annie and Boss keep him in eggs but sometimes test his patience.

‘I think they know their names because when they’re in the veggie garden and I rouse on them, they run. They’re naughty girls when they want to be! They think they’re gardeners, mate!’

Chris’ garden and his simple, fulfilling life are a testament to the power of community and the joy that comes from nurturing both the land and the people around him.

My Home Awards

The My Home Awards celebrate connections to home, community and culture and the positive contributions of Queensland public housing tenants.

The awards encourage tenants to keep active, connect with their neighbours and community, and share their stories and creativity.

If you or someone you know needs housing help

Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or contact your local Housing Service Centre.

If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, contact the Homeless Hotline for free on 1800 474 753 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Find out more about housing help and support.

In full bloom

‘I’ve got a lot of flowers at the front for people to enjoy, and then at the back I grow veggies, which I share with others in the complex.’

Brenda, 91, spends 3 full days a week working in the gardens around her unit and throughout the wider Clontarf social housing complex she calls home.

She also spends 1 morning a week helping to maintain the large herb garden in the Redcliffe Botanic Garden, a collection of about 500 species of culinary, medicinal, industrial, and native herbs widely regarded as one of the best in Queensland.

Brenda won first prize in the Edible Garden category for the Moreton Bay region in the 2023 My Home Awards, and said the win was ‘a nice surprise and very satisfying’.

Growing up in West Australia as the second-eldest of 12 children, Brenda said gardening was a vital skill learnt early.

‘Dad worked a lot of different jobs, on the roads, in the railway, but always grew vegetables because we never had much and it was a necessity to grow things for ourselves,’ she said.

‘Then I married Harold, a wheat and sheep farmer, and I got used to doing a lot of things for myself because we had no electricity, no running water, no phone, nothing, just out in the bush.’

Brenda’s garden has become more than just a source of food and beauty; it’s a place where she continues to connect with others and contribute to her community. It’s a testament to the resilience and generosity that have been constants throughout her life.

My Home Awards

The My Home Awards celebrate connections to home, community and culture, and the positive contributions of Queensland public housing tenants.

The awards encourage tenants to keep active, connect with their neighbours and community, and share their stories and creativity.

If you or someone you know needs housing help

Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or contact your local Housing Service Centre.

If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, contact the Homeless Hotline for free on 1800 474 753 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Find out more about housing help and support.

Cultivating connections

Despina’s love for gardening goes beyond nurturing plants – it has blossomed into something that enriches both her life and the community around her.

‘I’ve always loved gardening. I enjoy tending my garden daily, watching it flourish and sharing my flowers, vegetables and cuttings with friends, family and the local community.’

This passion recently earned her first prize for her courtyard garden in the 2023 My Home Awards for the Gold Coast region, a recognition she feels proud of.

But for Despina, who has lived in the social housing complex for more than 5 years, it’s about much more than winning an award.

Her vibrant courtyard is not only a source of personal joy but has become a hub for building connections with her neighbours.

‘People walking past stop to have a chat, which has created a real community spirit. It’s allowed me to meet a lot of people and make friends.’ Despina said.

Through her gardening, Despina has been able to foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity within her community.

My Home Awards

The My Home Awards celebrate connections to home, community and culture and the positive contributions of Queensland public housing tenants.

The awards encourage tenants to keep active, connect with their neighbours and community, and share their stories and creativity.

If you or someone you know needs housing help

Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or contact your local Housing Service Centre.

If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, contact the Homeless Hotline for free on 1800 474 753 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Find out more about housing help and support.

Growing veggies brings neighbours together

For public housing tenant Violet, gardening at her apartment complex in Gladstone has helped her to connect with the community and build close friendships.

Violet enjoys sharing her passion for gardening with Steven, her neighbour and close friend.

Working together, they’ve successfully grown a thriving vegetable patch at the complex.

'When he moved in, we just clicked like mother and son.

'Steven usually tends to the vegetables, and I make sure to water them afterwards.'

Their gardening has been recognised through the department’s My Home Awards.

'We’ve won a few times! The most recent award was for the best garden courtyard.'

Violet is grateful she can rely on Steven for help and support.

'It’s a great friendship, and I wish more people were like him.'

Garry grows a tropical paradise with neighbours

At Garry’s place in Nundah his neighbours all know his name.

'I look after their gardens for them.

'They give me ideas and I take them on board, moving plants around, separating plants clumped together and spreading them out across the gardens.'

Garry’s neighbours admire his gardening and like to joke with him.

'They tell me it looks like a tropical resort in our complex, thanks to the plants.'

Garry focuses mostly on growing flowers and likes to work alongside his neighbour Roy who grows tomatoes, paw paws and herbs.

'My home is my happy sanctuary. With my neighbours, we all work together to keep our part of paradise looking at its best.'

Joining a local home produce swap group has provided many benefits for Toowoomba social housing tenant, Sandra.

'The best thing about the group is that it cuts my grocery bill down and I’ve made loads of friends in the group,' she said.

'I can swap eggs and pot plant containers for home-made soap or a home-made cake and there’s no money involved, it’s great.'

Sandra said that the appeal of the group is that it brings together people of different ages, abilities, and interests.

'We learn new skills from each other, and we ask for, and offer advice on different topics like gardening, sewing or cooking,' she said.

Sandra said the group has about 60 members and provides her with a strong connection to her community.

Sandra’s involvement in the group has led to some great friendships, including Alan, another social housing tenant.

'Alan lives nearby, so if I’m passing by and he is out in his garden, I stop and have a chat with him. He has been in the group a long time and he knows a lot about gardening. His plants are great!'

For Sandra, the best thing about her community is the people.

'Toowoomba is full of lovely people, it’s a really nice community.'

Susan fosters respect and close friendships in her community

Social housing tenant Susan says she enjoys being part of the tight-knit community in the 18-unit seniors’ complex at Yeppoon.

'I like to refer to my unit as my bunker. It has a lot of privacy and it’s protected by my friends living around me,' Susan said.

'Everyone looks after everyone else. When someone goes away, we step up to look after their cat or garden.

'If a neighbour hasn’t been seen in a while, we check to see if they’re okay.'

Susan is more than happy to share her gardening tips and be a helping hand around the complex.

'My neighbours refer to me as the garden guru. They come over if they have any questions or need some advice,' she said.

Knowing it can be hard for new people moving into the complex to settle in, Susan makes sure they feel welcome.

'We once met a new tenant who didn’t have anything at their home,' Susan said.

'So, I rounded up everyone around the complex who could spare a few items. We managed to collect items we thought they would need and left them at their door.'

Susan has great advice on how to be a good neighbour.

'Say hello and have a cuppa with your neighbours.'

When caring neighbours make it a special place to live

Public housing tenant Katie believes being a good neighbour is about helping someone out when they ask for it but giving them their own space when they need it.

'Being a good neighbour is about good communication – saying 'hi, how is your day going?' '

Katie, who has quadriplegia, is a provisional psychotherapist and is in her final year of her master’s degree in mental health.

She also works as a National Disability Insurance Scheme champion for people with disability by providing mental health and peer support.

She is close with her next-door neighbours Brian and Cheryl, who are both deaf.

Since moving into the complex, she has learnt sign language so she can communicate with them and provide support.

Katie says she will interpret for her neighbours when visitors, such as maintenance workers, come to the complex.

'I wanted to learn (sign language) so I could help them.

'They can only understand with sign language. If I am stuck, I get my sign language book out to help me,' Katie said.

Katie moved out of home when she was 22 because she wanted her own independence.

She says she feels extremely lucky to have her own home which has been modified so she can live independently.

Sue connects to her community through art and craft

Townsville public housing tenant, Sue, is interested in all types of art and craft.

Sue has been creating unique artworks on a shoestring budget for more than 10 years.

'The best thing about making art is that you can use your imagination and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Anyone can have a go,' she said.

Sue said she likes creating artworks out of recycled materials because you can turn everyday items into something else.

'My neighbours always offer me things before they dispose of them,' Sue said.

'A while ago I made home-sweet-home signs for my neighbours from recycled materials and they really liked them.'

Recently Sue tried her hand at basket weaving.

'I made some baskets and some new friends. I now attend the craft group once or twice a week.'

Sue is also passionate about her garden and her artworks often find a place in the garden.

'I love my home. It’s my piece of paradise. I’m making a raised veggie bed from recycled pallets,' she said.

Sue’s advice to gardeners is much the same as her advice to aspiring artists.

'You don’t have to spend lots of money. Try and get cuttings, feed your soil and then go for it!'

Simon’s move gives him independence and helps him connect with his community

Going to the shop for milk or doing the washing might seem like chores to most of us but, for Calamvale resident Simon, they’re a joy.

Until recently, Simon had to rely on carers to do these jobs for him. But thanks to a change of home and modifications to make the home more accessible, Simon has regained his independence.

Simon is certainly all smiles now that he can move freely about his home.

'I love that I can get in and out of my house easily.

'I’m close to the shops and will be able to go and get things I need on my own. I don’t need to ask others to go and get things for me.

'I love that I can be independent. I can do it,' he said.

Simon’s sister, Jenneclair, said she’s seen a tremendous difference in her brother after just 2 weeks in the new house.

'Since he’s been in the new house, he’s up at the crack of dawn, he’s moving, he gets himself ready, comes out and makes a cuppa, and feeds Tom, his cat.

'Those are things he was not doing easily in the old house.

'And he’s actually using the whole house whereas before he just lived in his room. Here, he’s going out in the world and that’s been wonderful,' Jenneclair said.

Laura from the Inala Housing Service Centre added, 'All these changes future proof the home for him and his changing needs as he ages. We’re hoping it will be his forever home.'