Families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Monash are now enjoying a brand-new veggie and herb garden – thanks to a grant from the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) Community Projects Fund.
Among them are 4-year-old Peya and her parents Peter and Sunanta from north-west Victoria, who stayed at the charity accommodation so Peya could undergo surgery and attend medical appointments.
The SRL Community Projects Fund grant allowed Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) to re-start its volunteer program after Covid, helping to upgrade the garden, build a new shed and buy gardening equipment.
Volunteers have expanded the main garden and planted vegetables, herbs and flowers, added new planter boxes and pots throughout the space and trimmed the existing hedges.
The garden is open for resident families to enjoy, and the vegetables and herbs are being used in meals for the families staying at Monash House.
The SRL Community Projects Fund is delivering immediate benefits to neighbourhoods around SRL East stations – well before trains are running. Almost 80 community and sporting projects across the project alignment from Cheltenham to Box Hill have shared in $3 million as part of the first round of grants.
SRL East will link 6 new underground stations between Cheltenham and Box Hill - attracting new jobs, housing and opportunities to the areas around the stations, and helping more Victorians live closer to where they work.
It will slash travel times to jobs, education and services – including the growing Monash medical precinct – connecting Victorians to key destinations in the east and south-east without having to go into the CBD and out again. Construction is now underway, creating up to 8000 jobs.
Multiple funding rounds will be offered as part of the Community Projects Fund.