Simcoa grows taller with award

While members of a South West program helping people through mental illness did not come back with the big award at the WA Training Awards, the program participants and creator still returned with smiles on their faces.

Growing Towards Wellness program creator and facilitator Jimmy O’Rourke said while the program missed out on being named best training initiative for 2010, he was thrilled to be a finalist.

"It was such an honour because of the company we were in, the finalists were just fantastic," Mr O’Rourke said.

Growing Towards Wellness, which helps people through mental illness by providing horticulture training via the South West Regional College of TAFE and South West Horticulture Therapy and Training, is still a winner in the eyes of participant Maxine Hamilton.

Ms Hamilton said the program had shown her she could find happiness after sadness.

The group were back to work after the awards ceremony, planting new gardens at Simcoa’s Kemerton base.

"There was just sand before we came here," Ms Hamilton said.

She said the group participants designed the gardens themselves, keeping in mind the climate and species of plants that were native to the area.

One of their accomplishments in the new garden outside Simcoa’s training facilities is plants they propagated themselves.

"It’s just made such a difference," she said.

Simcoa general manager of marketing and administration David Miles agreed.

"It’s made a really nice environment for our staff to work in," he said.

Growing Towards Wellness is also up for another award, as a finalist in the Mental Health Good Outcomes Awards.

Those awards will be announced on October 12.