It wouldn’t be Mother’s Day in Bundaberg without a bunch of home-grown Endeavour Foundation flowers but with a bumper crop on the way, volunteers will be needed more than ever to ensure the harvest’s success.
Endeavour Foundation is putting the call out for volunteers to register their interest to help pick and bunch colourful chrysanthemums.
Each year the employees at the disability social enterprise plant and cultivate more than 7,000 chrysanthemum plants, which, when in bloom, produce more than 70,000 flowers for the mums and caregivers of Bundaberg.
Production manager Mark Elliott says it would be all-hands-on-deck from about the end of April right up until Mother’s Day itself.
“Our Mother’s Day harvest has been going for more than 30 years,” says Mr Elliott.
“It’s become an annual tradition for many Bundaberg locals to pick up a bunch for their mums, and the other caregivers in their lives each year.
“But there’s no way we can achieve this without the incredible support of community volunteers, who we think are bloomin’ marvellous!
“Volunteering in our harvest is a great way for locals to show their support for people with disability, while helping make mum’s day.
“The best thing is you can volunteer on your own terms. We have people who volunteer for two whole weeks, on Mother’s Day itself, or for a few hours here and there as and when they can – it all helps.”
Trish Shemlowski is the parent of one of Endeavour Foundation’s employees and has been volunteering on the flower harvest for six years while also serving on the organisation’s Wide Bay Area Committee.
“A bunch of Endeavour Foundation flowers is just expected on Mother’s Day these days – I expect to get my bunch from my son!” she says.
“They’re beautiful flowers every year. It’s one of those things that the Bundy community gets behind.
“Volunteering gives you the good feeling of helping the guys out at the farm and the money raised goes to great causes.
“I’d say give it a go, even if it’s just for a couple of hours to see what it’s all about.”
To give your time, call (07) 4155 5701 or email bundbs@endeavour.com.au.
