Volunteers at Coburg’s Peppertree Place continue to fight Uniting Kildonan to ensure nursery and cafe’s survival

VOLUNTEERS say Peppertree Place has saved multiple lives, but now it is in danger of dying out after it was announced a church service provider was pulling the pin.

Peppertree Place volunteers Mary Morrison, Cathy Raleigh, Peter Mulvenna, Susan Agar, Lynette Lee, Toni Piccolo, Jane Baxter-Swale and Celeste Rowe are fighting to keep the nursery open. Picture: Josie Hayden

ASHE Zollars says volunteering at Coburg nursery and cafe Peppertree Place saved her life.

She and other volunteers were left distraught when recently told the Uniting Kildonan-run nursery would shut at the end of the month.

Ms Zollars said when she first arrived at Peppertree Place in 2015, just before she turned 25, she was in need of a sanctuary and found it at the peaceful community garden.

VOLUNTEERS OUT AS CAFE, NURSERY CLOSES

“I was very mentally ill and depressed and this place gave me the confidence that I was actually worth it,” she said. “This place saved my life.”

Ms Zollars learned basic gardening, metal and wood work at the site and is now in early planning to open her own gardening business. She and the more than 50 other volunteers on the books at Peppertree are now fighting to keep the nursery’s doors open.

Mary Morrison, who has volunteered for nine years, is still in disbelief but believed the Save Peppertree Place campaign would keep the doors open.

“It would be a total disaster if this place shut down but I have faith in the people fighting to save it,” she said.

Volunteers are afraid they will lose an inner Melbourne sanctuary. Picture Andrew Tauber

Campaigners held an action meeting on Saturday to raise support and will work with officers from Moreland Council to find a way to keep the nursery open.

But doubt remains about the future of the land, with owner Coburg Uniting Church exploring options for the site.

The closing date came as a shock to the volunteers and the remaining part-time paid worker as they were of the belief it would close in November.

Executive officer Joanna Leece said Kildonan was working with the volunteers to find another place for them.

However, multiple volunteers told the Leader they would not move to other areas of the service provider.

MORE NEWS

COMMUNITY RAVISHED BY BUSHFIRES AIDS DROUGHT HIT FARMER

LOCAL ACTIVISTS FORCE COUNCIL BACKFLIP

IS THIS MELBOURNE’S CHEAPEST BOTTLE-O?

SOCCER STORE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS