Harvesting hope for the community

23 June 2025

Inmates at South Coast Correctional Centre have been getting their hands dirty for a good cause - cultivating a thriving vegetable garden that’s feeding both purpose and the local community.

Over the past six months, participants in the Grounds Recycling Service Unit have been working under the guidance of overseers Daniel Riepsamen and Daniel Hess to transform a patch of soil into a flourishing garden. The initiative blends hands-on labour with practical education, teaching inmates valuable skills like soil preparation, seedling cultivation, and sustainable gardening techniques.

The results speak for themselves: rows of fresh, vibrant produce - and a renewed sense of purpose for those involved.

Peter Felvus, Manager of the Business Unit, is full of praise for the program.

“It’s great to see the inmates so engaged in the garden and keen to learn new skills,” Peter said.

“We have plans for more varieties of fruit and vegetables, including watermelons, and continuing to grow the garden.”

But the benefits don’t stop at the prison gates. The fresh vegetables are donated to the Nowra Community Food Store, a not-for-profit supermarket that supports locals doing it tough. Unlike some food donations that may be close to expiry, the produce from South Coast Correctional Centre is fresh, high-quality, and grown with care.

“Fresh produce is always welcome,” said Dan from the Food Store.

“With the current cost-of-living crisis, this food helps us support local families who are doing it tough.”

This initiative is a powerful example of how rehabilitation programs can foster growth - both in the garden and in the lives of those involved. It’s proof that even behind prison walls, positive change can take root.