Robbed Yandina Community Gardens reaches out to thieves

The volunteers at the Yandina Community Garden have reached out with an offer of support to the mystery thieves who stole valuable gardening equipment from one of their sheds over the Labour Day long weekend.Volunteers who turned up on the Monday for a Labour Day Working Bee at the community gardens discovered the side gate and shed door had been forced open by unwelcome visitors.Garden Coordinators Penny Foster and Linda Mahony discovered that the group’s brush cutter, chain saw, power drill and jerry cans had been stolen.“We were having such a productive day preparing the gardens for our Open Day on Sunday 15th May, so it came as a great disappointment to learn that we had been burgled,” the group’s President, Michelle Parry, said.Thankfully, the disappointing robbery has been softened somewhat by the donation by local community members of a new drill and also a second hand whipper snipper, which they hope to repair.Ms Parry had posted a note on Facebook in the hope the stolen items would be returned, including an offer of support if the thief or thieves stole the items because they were struggling financially.“To the person or people who broke into Yandina Community Gardens…  We would really appreciate it if you would return our equipment as our volunteers need it to maintain the gardens,” Ms Parry wrote, in the hope her words would be seen by the thieves.“Yandina Community Gardens is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers who give their time and skills to provide a place for the public to visit and learn how to grow their own food and be healthier and have less impact on the Earth.“We provide a community space where people can belong and feel valued.“The equipment we use at Yandina Community Garden is donated, paid for by grants or paid for through funds we raise through the work of our volunteers – for example, propagating the plants we sell.“If you took our equipment because you are having financial difficulty, perhaps we can help you by providing you with some produce from our gardens – you can contact me by messaging this page or emailing info@yandinacommunitygardens.com.au“With loving kindness, Michelle Parry, President, Yandina Community Gardens Incorporated.”Photo caption: Yandina Community Gardens President Michelle Parry with volunteers Trevor Lahey and Heike Farkas. A storage shed from which some of their equipment was stolen is at the back. Photo: Richard Bruinsma