A curved wooden seat, set among a mass of lavender, is just one of the surprises in a Bairnsdale therapeutic garden.

The garden is the brainchild of the ladies of Glasshouse Gatherings and the seat a product of collaboration between its designer, Michele Shugg, and members of Bairnsdale Sunrise Rotary.

The setting is the Prevention and Recovery Care Service (PARCS) on Maroney Street, a 10-bed facility where adults dealing with mental health issues can stay for up to 28 days to receive support.

“We just wanted to help and to raise awareness of mental health,” Maria Beasley, of Glasshouse Gatherings, said.

“We decided to put the money we raised towards a therapeutic garden. Sarah could have benefited from something like this.”

The impetus for Glasshouse Gatherings to form together to raise funds was the loss of a young local girl, Sarah Simpson, who took her own life almost eight years ago.

Sarah dealt with mental health issues for 20 years.

“Sarah had spent some time at PARCS,” her mother and Glasshouse member, Kate Simpson, said.

“Being involved in building this gar- den, it was good to do something positive out of something negative.” Three years ago, Glasshouse Gatherings ran a garden soiree called ‘Remembering Sarah’ at ‘Coonmoor’, Lindenow South, hosted by the McArthur family, which raised an incredible $15,000.

The guest speaker was well known Australian actor, Gary McDonald, who spoke of his anxiety and depression issues.

“You wouldn’t think Gary McDonald would have those kinds of issues,” Kate said.

“When we ran the garden soiree it seemed every second person knew someone close to them with depression or anxiety.”

For Lou McArthur the soiree hit a chord with the 120-strong audience.

“The talk definitely struck a nerve and started conversation among people,” Lou said.

“There are so many people who could benefit from a facility like PARCS.”

The six-member Glasshouse Gatherings committee took part in the garden transformation, alongside land- scape gardeners Michele and Drew Shugg of Quaystone Properties.

Many hours of labour have transformed the drab, concrete backyard into interesting sections, flowers here, a sculpture there, something to see or eat from the vegetable garden.

“Michele and Drew Shugg did so much work, basically out of the goodness of their hearts,” Kate said.

“When we were building the garden it was lovely to see the PARCS participants enjoying being in the space and making nice comments about it.”

Kate hopes the garden will give people solace.

Bairnsdale Sunrise Rotary and Glasshouse Gatherings member, Jenny Robertson, said they had all had a close family member, or knew of someone who had suicided.

“Rural suicide is twice the urban rate, this is often unreported and is having a devastating effect on our communities,” Jenny said.

“We wanted to come together to highlight the enormity of this issue and try to make a small difference.”

Caption: Lavender to soothe - Gippsland PARC coordinator, Tracy Brazier, Glasshouse Gatherings and Bairnsdale Sunrise Rotary member, Jenny Robertson, Glasshouse Gatherings’ Maria Beasley, Sunrise Rotary’s Dick Hughes, Quaystone Properties’ Drew Shugg, Sunrise Rotary’s Geoff Carpenter, garden landscaper, Michele Shugg, of Quaystone Properties, Glasshouse Gatherings’ Lou McArthur and Kate Simpson, and Latrobe Regional Health clinician, Jenny Ball.