GAYLE HAMMOND

When Gayle Hammond saw an ad in 2012 inviting South Invercargill residents to join a community group to rejuvenate the area, she knew straight away that she wanted to be involved. At the time the housing stock was becoming run down, there were derelict areas and general morale was low. “It wasn’t a happy place and we wanted to make it a better place to work and live,” says Gayle, a nurse at the local freezing works. The group, named South Alive, identified areas that needed the most help and set about improving them. Gayle has always been a keen gardener, so joining the beautification team was an obvious choice.

Under Gayle’s leadership, their first project was Operation Zero Rubbish, where residents and community groups were invited to adopt a street and keep it free of rubbish. The project has been so successful that almost 500 out of 520 streets in the area have been adopted.

Gayle has also been instrumental in South Alive’s transformation of a wasteland behind a shopping centre. South Alive volunteers removed tonnes of concrete, planted a lawn, built an outdoor gym, a basketball court and a stage. Gayle and her team were responsible for establishing a community garden there. Veges and bee-friendly flowers are grown in 15 brightly painted containers, some of which have been adopted by groups such as the local kindy. The team has planted more than 1000 bulbs and 350 plants in this park, and in roadside gardens. They installed hanging baskets at the shopping centre and replant them twice a year. “We use our own plants where possible,” says Gayle, “but South Alive also receives support from the council and various community groups and businesses.”

Gayle says that the team’s efforts have definitely had an impact on the community. There’s less vandalism than before, and community spirit has improved too. “When we’re out and working, people recognise us in our yellow South Alive vests and give us a toot, or they stop and say, ‘You’ve made such a difference.’ It gives me a real boost.”