What’s Happening?
Carlyle Gardens Mackay Retirement Village resident Glenda Evans has turned an old tin into a colourful Giving Day garden display. She planted a sunflower outside her villa, then surrounded it with hand-painted rocks featuring lizards, frogs and other creatures.
Her creation forms part of the Great Sunflower Grow Off across BlueCare retirement villages throughout Queensland. Residents are growing sunflowers and creating visual displays as symbols of hope and support for people affected by dementia.
Why It Matters
BlueCare’s annual Giving Day raises funds and awareness for people living with dementia and their families. The initiative brings communities together through kindness, connection and a shared purpose.
Donations will help provide specialised dementia training and resources for BlueCare teams. These resources will support staff in providing compassionate care to people living with dementia and their families.
The Great Sunflower Grow Off also gives residents an accessible way to participate while encouraging everyday conversations about dementia.
Local Impact
The competition soon became more than a gardening activity for Glenda. “When the competition started, I thought, ‘I really must do something with this,'” she said.
Her love of painting rocks shaped the colourful display around her sunflower. “I love painting rocks. It’s something I can sit and enjoy, and I thought the display might make children, grandchildren and anyone walking past stop and smile.”
Above the planter, Glenda placed a sign reading “Grow tall and bloom for Giving Day”. A second message reads “Smile and be happy”.
“The words are for the flowers,” she laughed, “but they’re also for the people who walk past every day.”
By The Numbers
- More than 30 BlueCare retirement communities across Queensland are taking part in the Great Sunflower Grow Off.
- The participating communities are home to more than 3,000 residents.
- BlueCare launched Giving Day in 2024 as an annual dementia awareness and fundraising initiative.
Zoom In
At 86, Glenda says sunflowers have always brought her happiness. “Yellow is my favourite colour. They’re such happy flowers. When you look at a sunflower, you just feel like smiling.”
However, her involvement also carries a deeply personal meaning. Glenda’s mother lived with dementia, while friends and other family members have also been affected.
“Dementia is such a hard thing to understand. But the more you understand dementia, the more you learn to cope.”
Those experiences have shown Glenda why patience and compassion matter when supporting someone with dementia.
“They are in their own world. They may not know the people around them, so kindness and understanding is important.”
Zoom Out
BlueCare launched Giving Day in 2024 to unite communities while raising funds and awareness for dementia support. The Great Sunflower Grow Off now carries that message through retirement villages across Queensland.
By linking gardening and art with dementia awareness, the campaign allows residents to contribute through activities they already enjoy.
What To Look For Next?
BlueCare Giving Day will be held on 24 September, when statewide Grow Off winners will also be announced. The winners will be recognised for their creativity and participation throughout the campaign.
Donations can be made through BlueCare’s fundraising page. Giving Day partners will match donations made that day.
“I hope people will get behind Giving Day and donate if they can. Every bit helps, and it’s going towards helping people living with dementia and their families,” Glenda said.
Her garden carries one final message for residents, families and visitors. “Appreciate every day and what you have. Be kind.”
As her sunflower continues growing, Glenda hopes it will brighten the day of everyone who passes. It also shows how a small seed can become something meaningful.
