The fruit of Bill’s labour enjoyed at Banfields

Bill Waters, who describes himself as 91 years young, arrived to live at Banfields two years ago, in 2018.

And since that time, residents and staff at Banfields Aged Care have been enjoying seasonal, delicious, home grown organic fruit and vegetables, grown by him.

One of Bill’s misgivings at the time he was making the move into Banfields was that he may no longer be able to grow his own organic fruit and vegetables, which had been his staple diet for years. However, the problem was easily fixed.

The helpful staff at Banfields installed raised garden beds in the grounds of the facility for him to develop. And Bill seamlessly resumed his lifelong passion of organic gardening.

Bill ably tends his garden beds every day and everyone at Banfields enjoys the product of his labour on a regular basis.

Bill, born in Whangarei, New Zealand, first became interested in growing vegetables at the tender age of 11, when his father needed to leave the family to go to war. In his absence, Bill ensured his father’s crops and plants were always well maintained, for their village to share in.

It was a job that he loved doing.

Bill also had a love of flying and when he was older, worked very hard at getting his pilot’s license, and he was soon able to fly a single engine light plane. He then began work at Adastra as an agricultural top dresser; an occupation better known here in Australia as a crop-dusting pilot.

Bill did this work for five years. But he gave it away when he decided that although he loved flying, he no longer wished to go dusting vegetation with chemicals.

Bill and his wife owned a plot of land and were growing a lot of fruit and vegetables, including Kiwi fruit, which was something quite new at the time in New Zealand. And it wasn’t long until word got out around town that the best fruit and vegetables to be had were grown at their place!

Seizing on an opportunity, the couple started selling their much sought-after organic produce from the garden gate.

When the couple immigrated to Australia in 2002, and settled at Phillip Island, they wanted to continue to be able to grow their own produce. They were lucky enough to secure a block of land big enough to build a house and establish a half-acre organic fruit and vegetable garden.

In 2018, when Bill moved into Banfields, he was very keen to continue to grow and eat his own organic fruit and vegetables, as he had been doing throughout his life.

With the strong focus at Banfields on providing support and opportunities for residents to continue their interests and hobbies when they move into aged care, staff members set about building raised garden beds in the grounds, thus enabling Bill to continue this lifetime activity.

The venture has been a great success, with Bill out and about tending his gardens daily. Production has been prolific.

The good news for not just Bill but his fellow residents and chefs in the Banfields' kitchens, is that there is delicious fresh produce available which can be enjoyed by everyone.

Bill plants his garden seasonally, so there is a variety of different offerings throughout the year. Currently healthy leeks, cabbage, Italian parsley and his favourite crop of celery, are in production.

Bill’s work in the garden has been a great success.

He is happily able to maintain his independence and love of gardening, while living at Banfields. And he has provided a new interest and the health benefit of organic produce, to fellow residents at his new home.