Award-winning gardener talks petal power and recovery

FOR award-winning Toowoomba green thumb Rob Kennedy, there is one thing he looks forward to after finishing a day’s work.

Rob Kennedy will open his garden to the public on Sunday, July 28, in the lead-up to the Chronicle Garden Competition. He is pictured here with Cr Nancy Sommerfield. Picture: Contributed

FOR award-winning Toowoomba green thumb Rob Kennedy, there is one thing he looks forward to after finishing a day's work.

"Some people like to go and read a book, I like to water flowers," he laughed.

Which is fair enough. He already has a mantlepiece of trophies to his name and is readying his garden for this year's Chronicle Garden Competition.

He's also marking 12 months in recovery from a coward hit that almost ended his life. 

Growing up in Cunnamulla, Mr Kennedy's love of gardening was encouraged.

At 19, in the dry heat of the outback, he built himself a rock garden citing that it was hard to grow anything there due to the water situation - but determined as he was, his garden bloomed and thrived.

He moved to Toowoomba in 1996, became a landscaper and turned his passion into a successful business.

In 2015, Mr Kennedy started entering his own slice of heaven in gardening competitions - and he has been winning ever since.

He has won trophies for categories including Best Edible Garden and Best Productive Garden to name a few and this year, on July 28, he will be showcasing his award-winning garden ahead of the Chronicle Garden Competition, which is held in September during the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

"I wanted to host an open garden, not only to promote the 70th year (of the competition), but to show that it's not all roses that leads to the carnival, it's a lot of work," he said. 

"It's not about winning, it's about promoting the city, I see how much work the council puts in to ensure our public parks are in full and beautiful bloom for the Carnival, and this is my way of contributing and supporting the town."

Mr Kennedy's story is as inspirational as it is impressive. When he opens his garden gates to the town's petal lovers next week, he will be acknowledging a one-year anniversary since a tragic evening when he sustained a severe injury.

Rob Kennedy will open his garden to the public on Sunday, July 28, in the lead-up to the Chronicle Garden Competition. He is pictured here with Cr Nancy Sommerfield. Picture: Contributed

After being airlifted to Brisbane by RACQ's LifeFlight, Mr Kennedy was put into an induced coma due to the severity of the brain injury.

"My landscaping business suffered for six months, but this competition has been a huge inspiration for me, and it is my way of giving back," Mr Kennedy said. 

He credits his recovery to his love of gardening, stating that his treating team let him come home to Toowoomba after six weeks to continue his rehabilitation, knowing that keeping him close to his garden would help him heal.

This year during the Chronicle Garden Competition, he has decided to dedicate his garden and work to LifeFlight by collecting gold coin donations to contribute to the team who saved his life.

"Part of the Open Garden on July 28 is to raise awareness for brain injury and LifeFlight who airlifted me back to Brisbane," he said. 

Rob Kennedy will open his garden to the public on Sunday, July 28, in the lead-up to the Chronicle Garden Competition. He is pictured here with Cr Nancy Sommerfield. Picture: Contributed

It seems as though his recovery has ignited a new kind of devotion to his garden and his community.

Mr Kennedy speaks as though he has much to give back, dripping with gratitude for all the assistance he has received from everyone involved in his rehabilitation.

"Because of the injury, I haven't been able to donate much, so this is my way of giving back," he said. 

Mr Kennedy's open garden will be held from 8am to 4pm on Sunday, July 28 at 255 Hume St, Toowoomba.

Entries to The Chronicle Garden Competition are still open but close on July 31.

Visit thechronicle.com.au/gardencomp to fill in the online entry form or look for the printed entry forms published in the paper.

Its major sponsors are Heritage Bank, Toowoomba Regional Council and University of Southern Queensland.

Originally published as Award-winning gardener talks petal power and recovery