Back in Bloom: Whiddon’s Spring Garden Competition Returns for 2025, Celebrating Gardens, Creativity, and Connection
Building on the success of last year’s event, Whiddon’s Spring Garden Competition is back, inviting residents and clients across all homes to embrace their green thumbs and creativity.
15 October 2025
Leading regional aged care provider, Whiddon, is delighted to announce the return of its much-loved Spring Garden Competition, inviting their care community to get creative outdoors once again.
This year, the competition will run until November and is expanding to welcome Home Care clients and Retirement Village residents, offering even more participants the opportunity to join and showcase their creativity.
Last year, Whiddon Mudgee took out the inaugural prize with a heartwarming and community-inspired design, winning $5,000 to further enhance their outdoor spaces. Residents were involved every step of the way, from planning meetings to plant selection and creating mosaic art, while sustainability was celebrated through solar-powered water features, recycled pallets, upcycled wine barrels paying homage to Mudgee’s renowned wineries and of course the tribute to Mudgee's iconic Second World War Memorial Clock Tower.
Residential Services Manager at Whiddon Mudgee, Charne Ross, reflected on last year’s success:
“We loved seeing our residents pour their hearts into their gardens last year. From smashing tiles for mosaic art to planting flowers, every moment was filled with stories, laughter, and joyful collaboration.”
More than a gardening challenge, Whiddon’s Spring Garden Competition celebrates collaboration, friendship, and community pride. Last year, gardening clubs, Men’s Shed groups, local volunteers, and even school students rallied around Whiddon homes, lending their skills to bring residents’ visions to life. From crafting planter boxes to hosting garden-themed morning teas, their support created vibrant spaces that strengthened bonds across generations.
Whiddon is encouraging all Residential Aged Care (RAC) residents, Home Care clients, and Retirement Village residents to embrace their green thumbs and participate. Whether it’s planting colourful flowers, building sustainable features, or creating spaces that spark conversation and connection, the competition is about more than beautiful gardens – it’s about celebrating creativity, community, and the joy of coming together.
Chief Customer Experience Officer, Michael Monteleone, said the Whiddon team are buzzing with excitement for this year’s competition:
“We’re thrilled to see the creativity and community spirit return this year. The Spring Garden Competition is a wonderful way for our residents and clients to connect with nature, express themselves, and strengthen bonds with their carers and communities.”
With entries already rolling in, Whiddon looks forward to seeing which gardens will inspire and flourish in 2025.
About Whiddon
Whiddon is an award-winning care provider that aims to inspire every day in its 23 RAC homes, dedicated home care, NDIS support across NSW & SE QLD as well as its 12 Retirement Villages. Its purpose is to enrich people’s lives and make a real difference.
Whiddon has been providing exceptional care to older Australians and people with disabilities across regional, rural, and remote NSW and QLD for more than 75 years.
Whiddon proudly partners with academics and universities to remain at the forefront of innovation as it leads the latest thinking, programs, and training around quality of life and ageing.
