PULLING weeds and pruning trees is more than just a job for the clients of Wyndham disability services provider Mambourin, who have been getting their hands dirty at Sanctuary Lakes.
The clients are the newest additions to the estate’s groundskeeping team , with one worker employed full-time.
Six people with a disability have worked one or two days a week.
Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club’s annual charity tournament raised money to purchase a new gardening truck for the Mambourin crew.
Each year, more than 100 golfers tee off in the event and almost $100,000 has been raised in the past six years.
Mambourin is a not-for-profit organisation providing education, training and employment for people with a disability in Melbourne’s west.
Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club members John and Jeanne Burbridge said the $18,000 raised this year would buy new furniture, including a television for Mambourin day-care centres.
Mr Burbridge said the club had supported Mambourin as its main charity for years.
“They’re [the Mambourin workers] part of the family now here at Sanctuary Lakes,” he said.
“Many used to not speak very much, but they’ve come out of their shells and now their heads are held high.
“They’ve got confidence and have built on [their] self-esteem.”
Mambourin gardening team leader Ian Hall thanked Sanctuary Lakes for ongoing support.
“Instead of just sitting around in a rut, it’s programs like this that are giving the client more job skills.
“Our long-term goal is to get these guys into the mainstream workforce”.
