Opening garden, opening hearts

THE Open Gardens season has comes around again and this spring some exhibitors are putting their proceeds towards helping those less fortunate.
Owners of The Arbours in Kallista, Rob and Kaye Ewing, are opening their garden to the public on 17 and 18 November, and plan to use any profits from the event to help Ethiopian children.
Their interest has been spurred on by a friendship between Mr and Mrs Ewing and neighbour Bronwyn Millen, who has an adopted daughter, Betelihem, from Ethiopia.
Ms Millen adopted Betelihem, who is now four years old, during a visit to Ethiopia, and said it’s something she had always wanted to do.
“When the time was right, I did it,” she said.
Ms Millen currently supports World Families Australia (WFA), a non-profit organisation that helps communities and children overseas by providing water, food, medical support and other essential services.
Her contribution to WFA is sending suitcases of clothing to Ethiopian communities and sponsoring two Ethiopian children with monetary support.
“Some of these kids have very, very little,” she said. “Some of them have nothing, no opportunity.
“I try to give a bit, because it goes a long way.”
Ms Millen said that she’s thankful for Mr and Mrs Ewing’s support and encourages others to get involved with helping others, any way they can.
“You can’t support everyone, so you have to choose something that means something to you,” she said.
The Arbours garden will be open on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November, from 10am-4.30pm and has a number of colourful camellias and flourishing fruit trees. The property is located at 12 Helena Avenue in Kallista and interested visitors are very welcome.
During the Open Gardens events, Mr and Mrs Ewing will be serving Devonshire tea, holding a sausage sizzle and a plant sale, as well as displaying art by local artists.
For more information on The Arbours garden, call Rob and Kaye Ewing on 9756 6265.