Royal Flying Doctor Service - Riverland Support Group

11/10/2026

Andary Brothers Open gardens
10 11 October 10 am to 4pm
118 & 127 Battams rd Glossop
The Andary Brothers

The Andary brothers grew up on their Parent’s fruit block and continued in the fruit industry until their retirement

They live opposite each other on their own properties and both offer their gardens in the 2026. Riverland roses and Garden Festival open gardens

Their gardens couldn’t be more different

Trevor has ornamental gardens roses and succulents but he also likes to construct display items out of scrap metal.

He has a section dedicated to the ANZACS a plane he built to scale and more
Continuous improvement has been occurring this year with a western theme emerging in his bottom garden

Rodney’s garden has some massive cactus stands and cocos palms planted close providing cool shade and meandering paths with ponds and bridges

Trevor says
“Selecting the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) as my charity for the open gardens began with the family requiring the service of this organisation

In rural and remote are as iti s an essential institution for communities.
As the population is ageing it is apparent that many of user going to require the services of the RFDS in the future.

It is vital to keep the Flying DoctorsFlying and to have the full support of the community
This is the reason for opening my garden to the public and my way of raising money for the Flying Doctors.

Over the last 3 years my garden has been evolving and the plane is my latest creation to enhance the existing ANZAC theme”

11/10/2026

Colleen & Fred Packer purchased their home in 2013. It had previously belonged to early Loxton residents, the Radomi family who had 6 children. They spent a year renovating the home before moving in a year later.

The property had very little garden or trees but there were three old stone buildings at the back They were built with hand made bricks The buildings were unsafe and needed to be demolished.

Keen to retain some of the history, they recycled the bricks to the front and back using them for garden edging & stairs.

Other items depicting Loxton’s farming history are incorporated into the garden.

The back garden is paved with bricks they rescued from a house that was burnt is the Adelaide hill bush fires’

Colleen enjoys creating her garden history & Fred tries to interpret her vision.

There are items and post rails from Colleens” Father’s trucking business reminds her of him. Roses relocated from her late Mother’s garden add to the memories.
Colleens closest friend & neighbour Phillis Loxton, is remembered by renovated doors from a shed that spanned over both of their properties and had to be demolished.
Limestone rocks were collected from their Daughter’s and Son-in-law’s farm and used for edging in the entire garden.

The garden is a mixture of trees, natives and ornamentals but the garden paths and paving show a real talent for design and creativity and every part has a story, a memory and history.

Fred has used the RFDS & SA Ambulance MedSTAR service twice having been flown to Adelaide from the Loxton airfield and says the service he received both times was “marvellous”

Still recycling and creating, Fred is making metal snails from old flat droppers & broken tynes from headers. They will available for sale during the Rose and Garden festival.
The snails sell for $20 each. All money from the sale of snails is donated to RFDS

Their garden will be open during the Riverland Rose and Garden festival with entry donations going to RFDS Riverland support group.
Open Garden 17 Sadlier St Loxton Open 10 11 14 17 18 October

10/10/2026

The Renmark Paringa Community Museum’s decision to donate 50% of all donations received at the Museum during Rose Festival week to the RFDS stems from that one of our members in their hour of need was flown by the RFDS &SA Ambulance MedSTAR service to Adelaide for urgent medical attention.
The Museum is run by local volunteers was originally established in 1975 as Engine Museum based around Stationary Engines of which we now have 92 with 70% in running order. Over the years the collection has expanded to include Horticultural, Agricultural, River exhibits primarily from the Riverland preserving the districts connection to the land.
Our “Community Garden and Fruit Salad Block” is an evolving project which came about from our tour guides conversing with visitors. Many visitors when coming back from Woolshed Brewery were asking what were those trees in the orchards on the way back to Paringa to which we replied to Almonds, most visitors were surprised believing that we only grew Grapes, Citrus and Stone Fruit from that evolved the idea to establish a garden and orchard to represent what is grown in the Riverland.
The Museum as a community organisation saw the opportunity to both support the Rose Festival, the RFDF and promote the Museum with one hurdle “We don’t grow any Roses”. From that evolved the “No Rose Garden” concept which is what we will be opening during the “Rose Festival”.
The Museum is located between the Paringa Silo Art and the River Murray in Paringa. During the Rose Festival our opening hours are 10am-3pm on the Monday 12th, Wednesday 14th Friday 16th and Saturday 17th in October. Buses are welcome and there is parking for cars inside the Museum. The Paringa bridge which is the only vertical lift bridge operating in South Australia and will be 100years old next year opens most days at 2.30pm with the best view being on the riverfront at the Museum.
If you require further information, I can be contacted on 0407618311 or email [email protected]
Wayne Howell
Chairman

The No Rose garden Lot 15 Sturt hwy Paringa Open garden 12 14 16 17 October 10am to 3pm

10/10/2026

Graham and Glenys Matthews of Barmera have been familiar with the Royal Flying Doctor Service for many years. Apart from knowing the RFDS was an extremely important organisation for country regions, their first real understanding of just how important was when seven years ago their 19 month old grandson became extremely sick to the extent it was touch and go as to whether he would make it through. Fortunately, he was flown through to the Royal Adelaide Children’s Hospital by the RFDS & SA Ambulance MedSTAR service and with the appropriate care was able to make a complete recovery. Since that time two other close family members have unfortunately required the services of the RFDS.
These experiences have prompted Graham and Glenys to become closely associated with the RFDS Riverland Group by raising much needed funds for the organisation through two of their close passions. After establishing their amazing Nookamka Gardens and opening them to the public for the first time during the Riverland Rose and Garden Festival in 2019, they have donated the total entry fees to the RFDS yearly and will do the same again for the 2025 festival.
The second passion one would think is probably more aligned with Graham, but Glenys is also involved and enjoys the cruising and social side of the Riverside Rodders and Riverland Customs and Classics Car clubs. Each year since 2023 these two clubs have hosted the Riverland Auto Street Party on the lake front at Barmera with all profits from the three years amassing $21,000 and being donated entirely to the RFDS Riverland Group.
As the years go by time seems to become less available, but Graham and Glenys intend to keep doing what they can while they can to ensure the RFDS keeps flying.
Nookamka Gardens 131 Nookampka Tce Barmera Open 10 11 12 14 16 17 18 October 10am to 4pm

10/10/2026

Fiona and Bogden Krawczuk would be well known in the Riverland at the local markets they have their own market stall now they are taking part in the 2026 Riverland Rose and Garden festival open gardens

It took us a long time to get the confidence to participate in the open garden scheme after years of Fiona visiting others.

The Renmark Rose Festival is such a fantastic community event that once we realised it was endangered it felt so important to support it.

Fiona had been fortunate enough to have several years connected to the nursery industry but we are very aware of how little we know and what beginners we are. We have been so grateful to have the patient & valuable mentorship of Kathy & Richard Foweraker, & professional advice from the excellent team at Berri Earthworks, and are very happy to be able to participate.

We have spent a lot of time attempting to be as self sufficient as possible, nothing is more rewarding than a meal where you've grown much of it yourself.
In these stressful times we have become really aware of the mental health benefits from gardening.

We expect to learn a lot from those who visit us over the open garden scheme, in particular wicking beds, about which we know nothing :).

The one piece of advice we can give is the vital nature of installing a good irrigation system & timers if you're inclined to be forgetful. A huge thank you to Nutrien Water, Renmark for irrigation components at fantastic prices and endless patience with my silly questions

We Chose to support the RFDS as Bogden had a life altering injury on the 25th of October last year & without them and the Emergency Department of the Riverland Hospital wouldn't be here today.
Krawczuk Open garden318 Kulkyne St Renmark Open 14 15 16 Oct 10am to 1pm

10/10/2026

Angie & Kevin Maczkowiack’s garden (with Teddie the dog) will be open during the Riverland Rose and Garden festival

When you arrive, you’ll walk up the side path and into their own private patio

You’ll walk past that and into into their secluded garden oasis.

Paths wind around the garden with occasional little alcove sitting areas and garden rooms.

The paths are all accessible so why not bring Grandma or Auntie for a coffee and bikkie while you sit and enjoy the cool and peaceful beauty?

Angie & Kevin purchased the 1 acre property about 15 years ago when there was no garden & no fence - just heat, dust and wicked westerly winds.

They began the transformation mainly with rescue plants from the nursery. There is no particular preference for any plant species, you’ll see a few natives, succulents ornamentals and ferns.

There is a beautiful fernery with advanced ferns providing a cool atmosphere and is the envy of visitors. The back wall is decorated with coloured plates they collected and attached.

Angie wanted to make quirky items out of metal scraps that she acquired from junk piles and garage sales. She bought a mig welder and with a little supervision from Kevin she taught herself to weld.

The garden has these interesting and quirky items placed here and there throughout the garden.

Thankfully neither Angie or Kevin have never needed the services of RFDS but they choose to support the flying Doctor because they believe it is so very very essential for the people in the outback and on farms to be able to get medical help when it’s needed.
McEden Open Garden 3 Middleton Rd Loxton OPen11 12 13 14 oct 10am to 3pm

10/10/2026

09/10/2026

We’re waiting to see you at the Rose Festival fair at Jarrett Gardens in Renmark
See our home baked cookies & merchandise stall Don’t miss out on getting a ticket in our Scratchie raffle There’s lots of other interesting stalls there & food Support the Riverland Rose & Garden festival it’s bigger than ever

08/10/2026

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