Gibbo's Garden
Les 'Gibbo' Gibson was a long serving, well-liked and respected employee of Queensland Rail, 1956 to 1987. Les was the designer and caretaker of the original station garden established in 1977. Retired in 1987 at age 55 years, Les has remained an active volunteer in community groups and activities in Ingham, and still visits his beloved garden regularly to enjoy 'smoko' with QR staff.
As a Queensland Rail employee, I took pride in my work environment, enjoyed helping visitors to the station, and always liked to keep myself busy on the job, explained Les. As a result of these work ethics, during his 'idle' time on the job at the Ingham Station, Les Gibson created a small garden sanctuary.
The original garden was full of colorful Dianthus and Petunias, and became a meeting point for travellers arriving at, or departing from, the station, as well as an out-door social hub for locals to meet, and a venue for staff BBQ functions. "Gibbo's Garden" in its prime also became a popular backdrop for local wedding and special event photography.
The original garden was cared for by a team of eight Qld Rail employees, led by Les Gibson and his colleagues Bill Crossman and David Finch, who manually tended to its care and maintenance. Today, the garden is cared for by a team of only three railway employees supported by an automated irrigation system which was installed in the garden's 2008 makeover conducted as a "community mentoring project" by local youth, adult volunteers and trade mentors.
Focus on Freedom
"Gibbo's Garden" has been re-created as an out-door gallery displaying local arts and crafts within a garden setting. The garden is a blend of colour and tropical foliage. Ingham State High School students, helped by EcoFriendly Gardens, have created an atmosphere of tranquility sitting by the "Wallaman Falls" inspired water feature. It is a place of positive energy stimulated by the scattering of youth art and splash of bright colour.
This garden is a reflection of the Ingham community spirit, the enterprise of our local youth and the natural beauty of our town. We hope visitors enjoy spending time here and show care and respect for our community garden.
Professional artists have worked with local youth and community volunteers to create the art works on display in this garden. The lead artists include: Ann Vardanega, local master photographer Australian Institute of Professional Photography; Sandy Robertson, Brisbane mosaic artist of OzMosaics Studio; and creative metal fabricator Luke Kaurila, novice in the fashionable field of "Junk Art". The story behind their art is outlined below.
A community development project, initiated by Queensland Youth Services Inc in 2007, was to run a series of photographic workshops for the youth of Ingham, led by local multi-award winning master photographer (AIPP) Ann Vardanega. The project offered hands on photographic workshops to young people with the aim of producing exhibition quality images. In 2008, the photographic workshop series was linked to the 'Station Restoration' garden makeover at the Ingham Railway Station, the Premier's Multi-cultural Photographic Awards, and local NAIDOC activities. Students produced printed images working to the theme "Focus on Freedom". The youth photographic workshop series is now intended to become an annual project and the images updated for exhibition in the gardens "out-door gallery" each year.
The mosaic art pieces on show around the garden were inspired by the tuition provided by Sandy Robertson of OzMosaics in a week-end workshop mid 2008, and completed under the guidance of community workers mentoring high school students. Volunteers Adelena Marolla, Tracy Pryor (Police Liason Officer) and Susan Beaton (Youth Support Coordinator) not only imparted skills to students to create their own mosaic pavers of native flora and fauna, but they completed the large modern art piece inspired by the district's iconic tourist attraction: Wallaman Falls. The use of glass and mirror reflects the changing light and movement of the falls, while the slate tiles are intended to resemble the rock face enveloping the falls. The artists hope visitors enjoy sitting by the calm waters of their falls and be inspired to visit the real waterfall while staying in the district.
Focus on Freedom, an opportunity to celebrate and embrace our (sic) similarities and our differences, our unique environment and carefree lifestyle. Focus on Freedom, an exhibition of student work, July 2008.
Today, after fifteen years since the last renovation, the garden with its artwork are still a nice place to visit.