By Jed Lanyon
Healesville Hospital’s wellness garden is officially open following a ceremony on Wednesday 27 November to celebrate the occasion.
Patients, hospital staff, Eastern Health representatives and those who helped make the garden possible were on hand to witness the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the space and a smoking ceremony performed by Indigenous Elder Aunty Joy Murphy.
The new wellness garden was the design of Healesville resident Jon Coe, who came up with the idea for a wellness garden during an overnight stay at the hospital as a patient last year.
The garden features orchids and rhododendrons donated from family members of former patients who have passed away.
Calming sensory elements such as wind chimes and water fountains can be found throughout the garden and therapy dog Ruby is a regular visitor, who loves making patients feel welcome.
One of the centrepieces of the garden is a large orange tree which is beginning to see its fruit take shape and grow.
The project has been funded entirely through donations and has raised over $90,000 through the community.
