How a small community’s garden project in southeast Queensland is aiding community healing

More than three years ago, mother and daughter Frances Avent and Jane Nicholson held a Building Vibrant Communities gathering in the rural town of Esk in southeast Queensland. 

Though it rained all day, the gathering was still attended by 10 people. “We explored the needs of the Esk community and possible solutions,” Frances recalls. “A community garden was suggested to address the social and emotional needs of the community.”

It wasn’t until over a year later, however, that a community member suggested to the Somerset Baha’i Community that a healing garden be established in the local park “providing a quiet place with shady trees and seating for the well-being of the Esk community”. 

In February 2024, a brainstorming session was organised at a local cafe. This session soon turned into the Community Healing Garden Working Group (CHGWG). “We came up with the idea of gauging the interest of the community in the idea of a Healing Garden by conducting a survey. This idea was taken up and promoted resulting in nearly 300 approvals.”

After engaging professional designers, the working group was able to approach the Somerset Regional Council with the first stage of the garden project to consider a labyrinth, which would be cheaper and quicker to set up. “As the Somerset Regional Council administers the local park, the [working group] approached them and found we needed an auspicor to proceed.” However, an auspice was unable to be found.

“Eventually, the [council] reduced the size of the proposed area to such an extent that a labyrinth was not feasible,” Frances says. “The [working group] realised that the local community did not understand what a labyrinth was so our next step must be to enlighten the community.”

The team has now been put in touch with a labyrinth expert. “Our next move will be to approach local organisations who are putting on major events to include ‘pop up’ labyrinths so the community has the opportunity to have first hand experience,” Frances says.

Last year, the working group was also approached regarding preparations for the 100^th anniversary of the Esk Hospital in August 2026. “The hospital was looking for assistance to improve the grounds in front of the hospital for the occasion. It was agreed that we establish a 12sqm native garden which is progressing well with a lot of positive feedback.” 

In its message dated 30 December 2021, the international governing body of the Baha’i Faith, the Universal House of Justice, states that: 

Frances says the team has “so often” received divine assistance during the course of this service project, “guiding us in our endeavours”. 

“We have ended up with two projects. Each will be an asset to the community and more and more members of the community are getting involved,” she says.