17 June 2025
For those who love to garden, there’s nothing more therapeutic than a morning spent pulling weeds or pruning – and that’s what you’ll find five cheerful volunteers doing every Monday morning at Harbour Hospice North Shore.
Takapuna resident Janet Braid has been helping out for 15 years, with Gay Southern from Northcote working alongside her for 10 years. Martin Brockwell from Takapuna and Alicja van der Poel from Greenhithe are recent additions to the group that tends the Shea Tce gardens, with Jeanne Warmington, a former member of the charity’s Family Support team, having signed up when she retired last year.
Southern says it’s not just being outdoors and gardening that the group enjoys. “It’s that the people and families who come into hospice are so appreciative of everything everybody does. A lot of people stop and say how pretty the garden is, and it’s just such a nice atmosphere.”
She feels humbled to know she is contributing to providing a calming sanctuary for patients and their families. Southern spent 25 years as a medical receptionist and said after retiring a friend suggested she help at the hospice gardens. “And I’ve been there ever since.” She hopes to continue for another decade.
Switching her gumboots for loafers, she also helps out on hospice reception twice a week, enjoying the social interaction.
“The other gardeners are just a really good bunch. We get on really well together and talk about all sorts of things. We just get on with whatever needs doing and we come rain or shine, and even on public holidays!
People interested in volunteering at Harbour Hospice, whether in the garden or in various other roles such as in the kitchen or with patient visits, can email the organising team at volunteer@harbourhospice.org.nz
This story was first published in the 13 June issue of the Rangitoto Observer.
