BREAST CANCER RESEARCH STEMS GARDEN OF HOPE

Jacquie Chirgwin knows a thing or two about hope. A former medical oncologist specialising in breast cancer, she’s seen the highs and lows that come with diagnoses and treatment.

Now a garden designer, Jacquie recognises the link between people going through difficult times and the positive effect that lovely gardens and natural spaces can have on mental health, which is why she’s opening her garden to the public to raise funds for Breast Cancer Trials.

Jacquie worked at Maroondah and Box Hill Hospitals for 29 years, during which time she became passionate about clinical trials and advancing the standard of care for breast cancer. She joined Breast Cancer Trials, recruiting many patients to the trials, which have helped shaped today’s breast cancer treatment. She later became Breast Cancer Trials’ Chair of the Board.

However, Jacquie had always been keen on gardening, finding it a wonderful creative outlet from the pressures of her medical career.

“About 25 years ago I was asked to open my garden to the public, leading to me hosting five open garden events,” she explains. “I named my backyard Garden of Hope, because my middle name is Hope, and that’s also what I provided to my oncology patients.”

The open garden sessions were a significant workload on top of her oncology responsibilities, but after she and her cardiologist husband Paul moved, she was inspired to start a new garden and study horticulture formally at Burnley Horticultural College (University of Melbourne) part-time while she was still working as a medical oncologist.

In 2012 she began offering her garden design services as a side project under Hope & Heart Garden Design, which ramped up when she retired from medical oncology in 2019. As principal garden designer, she particularly likes to design gardens around flowers, and has helped many clients to create cottage gardens, which fit small spaces well. Her favourite approach is naturalistic, as evidenced by her own garden. This involves working with nature to create a collection that brings a garden to life throughout the seasons, centred around a formal and open space.

“The best thing about working as a medical oncologist was closely interacting with patients I cared for, providing support and helping them with important decisions. While garden design is a different focus, I’m still fulfilled in the respect that I’m helping clients make decisions and looking after them,” she explains.

Jacquie’s personal garden will be open to visitors on 19^th April through Open Gardens Victoria. A portion of the entry price will be donated to Breast Cancer Trials.

“We’re grateful to Jacquie for not only the legacy she left from her many years of involvement with Breast Cancer Trials, but also because she continues to show passion and support for breast cancer clinical trials through her gardening endeavours,” said CEO of Breast Cancer Trials, Karen Price.

Contact: BCT Media & PR Lead, Sara McGregor – 0424 591 241 or sara.mcgregor@bctrials.org.au

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