Gladstone war widows enjoy backyard makeover as Legacy program approaches 10th year
Great-great-grandmother Vera Walker loves her revitalised garden. (ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan )
When more than 20 uniformed soldiers knocked on 90-year-old Vera Walker's door at seven o'clock on a weekday morning, she was "absolutely stunned".
"It was an eye-opener and a gob-opener too," the great-great-grandmother said.
Skip bin in tow, the soldiers parked their trucks on her quiet Gladstone street, began directing traffic and got to work cleaning up Ms Walker's backyard.
"I get a lump in my throat when I think about it … I was absolutely stunned,"she said.
Vera Walker has now hired a gardener to help maintain the garden, which has more space and new flowers. (ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan)
Ms Walker had been unsuccessfully trying for years to get quotes to have her overgrown yard brought under control.
"I'd had so many knockbacks from businesses … they'll come and give you a quote, but when you ask them for a written one, they don't want to know you," she said.
Unbeknownst to Ms Walker, an advocate with the charity Legacy had nominated her for the Backyard Assist program.
The crew trimmed trees, weeded, and demolished an old shed and BBQ in Vera Walker's backyard. (Supplied: Defence)
Run by Legacy's Brisbane division, the initiative helps partners or families of deceased or injured veterans manage overgrown backyards, through either partnership with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) or corporate sponsorship.
In Ms Walker's case, she received a call after the nomination asking if Army Reserve members, visiting the region as part of the biennial Exercise Austral Shield, could come by.
Legacy advocate Belinda Engstrome (left) nominated Vera Walker (right) for the Backyard Assist program. (Supplied: Defence)
Not knowing what the visit would entail beforehand, Ms Walker watched as the team of soldiers trimmed overgrown trees, weeded the yard, planted new greenery and dismantled her old brick barbecue and a shed.
"I was so thankful … it's absolutely beautiful, I just love it, it's so clean."
She joked she could now "have a jazz waltz" in her spacious backyard.
As part of Legacy's Backyard Assist program, Army Reserve soldiers volunteer to clean up overgrown gardens. (Supplied: Defence)
Ms Walker's late husband George, who died of cancer in 2005, served with the ADF in Thailand for six months in 1964, when their second child was just three weeks old.
Having lived in Gladstone for 34 years, the guitar-playing, country music-singing 90-year-old was beyond grateful for the help, enabling her to stay in her home longer.
Vera Walker (centre) says the entire backyard crew was "so lovely and polite". (Supplied: Defence)
'Driving by in awe'
Ms Walker is the latest in a long line of Backyard Assist program recipients, with the initiative approaching its 10th birthday.
"[But] we've been doing it informally now probably for almost 100 years," Legacy Brisbane's interim chief executive officer Anthony Birch said.
"It's so important, given our aging population, that we continue to support those people and try and keep them in their homes for as long as possible,"he said.
One of those people is Colleen Platten.
In Colleen Platten's backyard the crew upcycled available objects, including a ladder. (ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan)
While Ms Walker's backyard blitz was underway earlier this year, Ms Platten was preparing for a uniform visit of her own about 25 kilometres away in the beachside town of Tannum Sands.
"I looked over my balcony, there was four uniformed reserves standing there with their guns down, saying hello," she said.
Having also been nominated for a backyard assist, the group had come to scope out the 76-year-old's backyard, and returned two weeks later with extra cavalry.
Colleen Platten has collated all her late husband's navy memorabilia and photos of his former adventures. (ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan)
"I was feeling so humble … it's very emotional,"Ms Platten said.
She was also the talk of the neighbourhood.
"All decked out as they were … people driving by were just in awe."
As well as cutting back large trees and overgrown vines, Army Reserve horticulturists also helped with replanting potted plants.
"It was an enormous job … in all honesty, I couldn't afford it [otherwise]," she said.
Ms Platten's late husband, Lee Platten, joined the navy at 16 years of age in 1962. Working mostly on minesweepers, he served for five years.
Lee Platten served in the navy for five years from 1962. (ABC Capricornia: Katrina Beavan )
After struggling for some years with PTSD from the service, as well as Parkinson's disease and dementia, the couple opted to move Mr Platten into an aged care facility.
Not being able to find a spot locally, he moved into one about two hours' drive away at Emu Park. He died in 2023.
Ms Platten also volunteered with Legacy, organising lunches and workshops.
Mr Birch said the organisation was always looking for more volunteers. As for the Backyard Assist program, he envisioned it continuing a long way into the future.
"It just gives them [recipients] a little bit of pride and such a great way to reward their service or the service of their family."