The highest take-up rate for Pride of Place has consistently been in Mossman Gorge, and Kim Missionary is just one example of the community’s continued enthusiasm for POP and its commitment to sweat equity.
‘Kim’s sweat equity contribution to her Backyard Blitz was great’, said POP Enabler, Barry Preston. ‘She is so keen that she chases me up to show her what to do. She even drove to Cairns to pick up some of the materials herself.’
POP has given Kim both the inspiration and the tools to develop her interest in gardening.
‘When I signed up to POP and they told me about the Maintenance Kit, I was so excited’, said Kim. ‘The day I got my mower, I started mowing and I didn’t want to stop. I started at five and didn’t stop until seven.’
Having completed her Backyard Blitz, Kim is amazed at the changes POP and her hard work have made.
‘My garden was big and bare but I knew it would look good with a bit of work’, she said. ‘Now when I wake up, I go into my garden and I feel really good about all the work that I’ve put in. Next I plan to cover my fence with bamboo mesh, get a few garden gnomes and grow food in a vegetable patch.’
Kim’s garden impressed the judges during the Best Garden in the Village Awards last October, and received Best Garden Runner-up.
Kim has also been an active MPower member for over two years and contributes to Student Education Trust for her children.
A key objective of POP is for people to regularly care for and maintain their gardens. Kim’s story clearly shows we are making progress towards this goal.