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Hunter Correctional Centre plants seeds of change
9 DECEMBER 2025
How does your garden grow – with hands-on learning, a Certificate II in Horticulture, and approximately 20 inmates adding a green thumb to their prison greens.
The garden at Hunter Correctional Centre is tended by 20 inmates, splitting their time between the morning and afternoon shifts.
“There’s 25 gardens here at Hunter, spread across the entire centre,” explains Danny Lucas, Overseer Ground Maintenance at Hunter Correctional Centre.
“We have a variety including native garden beds, dry beds, tropical beds, and we have our own hot houses. We propagate our own, ninety per cent of the plants are grown here from cuttings.”
Turning over a new leaf
Garden experience is not necessary, although most inmates – like all of us - helped mow the lawn when they were young or lent a hand as their parents got older.
“I did a little bit helping mum and dad as a chore, but now I’m enjoying actually watching things grow, putting in the work and seeing the results,” said Tom*.
Planting hope
Tom has been working in the garden for five months and says it is a privilege he did not think he would receive as an inmate.
“I’m outside, near the gates and fences so this is not at all what I thought it would be like being in gaol. It is hard work, keeping the garden beds nice and tidy and making sure we keep the water up and the weeds out.”
Not only is Tom learning a lot about gardening “I didn’t know how propagation worked before this”, but he also appreciates the way a job such as this “makes time flow a bit quicker, I like being able to put my head down and work hard.”
Cultivating calm
Dave* agrees there is plenty of work to do maintaining the gardens but finds it gives him an opportunity to block out the noise and clear his head.
“It is a little bit of extra freedom, and even relaxation when I walk around watering.”
Danny makes sure the men in the garden appreciate the work involved and they need the right attitude to do it. It isn’t all just being out in the sun taking it easy.
“The do enjoy it, especially the koi pond area - I catch them there relaxing, maybe a little too much at times,” he laughs.
“But I’m happy everything gets done, it is an environment like no other and gives them a release from where they are. There’s something about dipping your hand in the garden that gives you a different mindset.”
At Hunter, the garden isn’t just blooming with plants, its cultivating patience, purpose, and a fresh perspective.
*Names have been changed
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