Westville memorial garden blossoms

FOUR years ago, the corner of Maryvale and Kingsmead Drive, in Westville, was an uncared for unsightly site, smothered in long grass, lantana and bugweed.

The idea of beautifying the corner and honouring the memories of members of the community who had died had occurred to Janine Magree some years before, when Glenda Kirkiridis, a well-known quilting personality, who ran the local residents’ association’s Facebook page, succumbed to cancer.

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But the garden only came about when family friend and restaurateur, Glynn Swan died in September 2016.

Janine’s husband, Brett Magree, funded the operation and various members of the community offered assistance.

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Plants were donated by friends and neighbours, and decorative benches, a pond, and mosaiced birdbath were all installed over time.

In February 2017, a tragic ordeal hit the Magree’s family, their eldest son, Bryn died unexpectedly, at the age of 17, due to an aneurysm just four months after ground was broken on the garden.

“I incorporated many of the plants I was given in his memory into what had started out as an indigenous garden. Bryn had an enormous following, as he was a well-known and popular figure in Westville and beyond,” said Magree.

Keeping Bryn’s memory alive

Bryn played rugby, was the third team waterpolo captain at his school and participated in national lifesaving championships.

“He loved skateboarding, surfing, dancing hip hop and was a talented artist,” said his mother.

The Grade 11 youngster had told his family during a dinnertime discussion a month before his death, he wanted to be an organ donor.

Magree said that the way things worked out, “I fervently believe he was meant to be an ambassador for organ donation.”

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When Bryn collapsed at the gym, his friend, Milan Erasmus, gave him CPR so that he could be placed on life support.

“He might otherwise not have been able to donate his organs. Bryn’s willingness to donate also meant the family broached the subject themselves, instead of leaving it to the surprised doctors, who admitted they were unaccustomed to dealing with families who are open to the idea.

“Bryn’s story went viral via Good Things Guy on Facebook not long afterwards, the Organ Donor Foundation reported a huge spike in donor registrations,” explained Magree.

Bryn’s liver recipient, Adriaan Grobler, who lives in Namibia, participated last year in the Desert Dash, a cycle race in Bryn’s memory, and his heart recipient, Martin Odendaal, appeared in the 1000 Lives series meeting Bryn’s parents; all of which has helped raised awareness for organ donation.

Garden continues to blossom

The fledgling garden, meanwhile, has given Janine an outlet for her grief and she was often to be seen in those early months, covered in mud, working late into the night, digging and planting.

The garden flourished and a little free library was erected in Bryn’s honour.

It was built by neighbour, Richard Proctor, and painted by Janine and a close friend of Bryn, Brogan Davidson.

The library was blown over in a storm last year and due to Covid-19, has been put into storage for the interim, but its return is eagerly awaited by locals who enjoy visiting the garden to swop their books and enjoy the scenery.

Bringing hope to the community

Another feature of the garden are the Christmas nativity scene and penguins, hearts and flowers which go up for Valentine’s Day and bunnies at Easter, when Brett’s old bakkie gets a workout, carrying all the elements of the displays up to the garden from the Magree’s home, about a kilometre and a half away from the garden.

Magree said she was so grateful for Sandile Khuzwayo, who is well known in the area for his cheery smile and wave, has been the gardener responsible for maintaining the garden over the past four years.

“The guerilla gardening project has also been extended to a piece of land on the corner of Headingly and Edgebaston, where several indigenous beds have been laid out by the pair of gardeners, who are passionate about creating beautiful surrounds and attracting natural fauna into the area,” she said.

Last year, the garden won fourth place out of 102 entrants in a municipal verge competition as well as winning Tyson’s verge garden contest for the Westville area.

Others in the area have cited this garden as inspiration for their own little verge gardens and Magee and Khuzwayo are thrilled that their efforts have prompted others to follow their lead.

“We are thankful to everyone who has contributed and played part into beautifying this garden. Ladybird Landscaping stepped up, generously offered to mow the area. They have been doing this for the last three years,” she said.

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