Community
21 May, 2026
Garden blooms for cancer fundraiser
MORTLAKE’S Rae Risk opened her beloved garden to raise funds for a cause close to her late husband’s heart last week.
The 96-year-old has been a stalwart of the Mortlake gardening community, having won more entries in the Mortlake Rose Show than anyone has been able to keep count of over the years.
On Friday she opened the gates to her garden in the name of raising funds for cancer research, a decision which she had made as a large selection of her award-winning flowers – particularly her large array of carefully cultivated chrysanthemums – are now in bloom.
“I’ve been gardening here for 35 years,” she said.
“I enjoy it – I like pulling out weeds.
“My chrysanthemums are special, my daffodils are too but they aren’t out, and also the roses are lovely.
“I’ve won quite a few prizes for them in the Mortlake Rose Show over the years.”
Mrs Risk’s daughter, Dianne Robertson, said raising funds for cancer has been an important cause close to the family’s heart as her father, Lesley Risk, was an avid supporter of cancer charities.
“Any cancer fundraiser is a passion for mum as it used to be my dad’s as well,” she said.
“He used to do all the Melbourne Cup Day lunches and rattle the tins in front of the TAB.
“Cancer fundraising has been a big part of the fundraising we’ve been part of over the years.”
Mrs Risk offered her gratitude to her fellow members of the Mortlake Country Women’s Association (CWA) Day Branch.
Members of the group, which Mrs Risk has been part of for more than 40 years, prepared an assortment of morning tea options for those visiting the garden.
Mortlake CWA Day Branch secretary Sue Long said members were more than happy to support Mrs Risk bring her open garden fundraiser to life.
“It’s nice to be able to do that for such a good cause, while also having a presence in showing that we’re here,” she said.
“We may only be a small branch at the Mortlake CWA Day Branch, but we get things done when we need to.”
Ms Long said the concept to host the day had stemmed from passing comment from Mrs Risk, but members rallied around her to make it happen.
“She had come up with the idea herself because it’s the time of year for much of her garden to flower, and she wanted to raise funds for cancer,” she said.
“She said it would be a lot of work, mentioning it in passing to a couple of us, but talked about how we could support her in doing it.
“It’s nice to be able to complement what she’s doing with morning tea, so she’s quite delighted we were able to support her in what she wanted to do.
“At 96, to still have ideas about how she can help others, is just lovely.
“Rae has been a long-standing member of our branch and it’s really nice to be able to do that for one of our members.”
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