TYING Up Loose Ends (TULE) recently hosted a light-hearted fundraising evening for the Heart Spaced Grief Garden project.
The comedy and music night, called Doing Death Differently, was held at Finbar’s Lounge Bar Maleny and was a huge success, raising $1,000 for the project and $250 for a cuddle cot.
Heart Spaced Grief Garden project coordinator Christine Elcoate said it was wonderful to see the way the community had taken the project to heart, which showed others felt the need for such a space in Maleny.
“Artists, musicians giving their time, volunteers coming forward and businesses all wanting to help in any way they can has been wonderful for the project,” Christine said.
Over the past few months there has been a flurry of work on the project, which is located adjacent to the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre (MNC).
The work included new walkways over the drains allowing greater accessibility for wheelchairs and prams organised by Jim Straker from MNC and TULE.
Working bees have begun thanks to a small band of dedicated volunteers, and plants from Barung Landcare and Spencer Shaw at Forest Heart Eco Nursery have been planted.
Christine said that while everyone was thankful for the recent rain, it had resulted in delays to stage one of the project and laying of the pathways. However, all sculptors have now been confirmed for the garden.
“It is with excitement that we now have all sculptors designated to the different stages of the garden,” she said.
“Barry Smith and Fiona Dempster from Deckled Edge Press are working on the Peace and Understanding Space and Geoff Saunders is working on the Empathy Space for loss of a sibling.”
Christine said Division 5 councillor Winston Johnston has found a reallocated bench seat from Sunshine Coast Council to use in the garden and Maleny Lions planned to refurbish it and organise installation.
Work is currently on track for the Heavy Heart Space to be installed and planted in time for Dying to Know Day on Sunday, August 8.
TULE will host a special community reflection morning in the garden on Dying to Know Day from 10am-12noon with poetry, music and a special ceremony.
Top find out more about the group go to www.facebook.com/tulesunshinecoast
Photo: TULE members Jancine Hurst, Cristina Way, Christine Elcoate, Tricia Cranney and Fleur Adamson
