National Certificate in Advanced Amenities Horticulture

Five years ago, Lynley Maxwell was contemplating what to do with the rest of her life. She was not expecting to live long, as the malignant melanoma found in a mole a couple of years earlier had spread to lymph nodes in her groin. 'I bought myself a little house at Moeraki by the sea and spent a couple of years here just walking the beaches and doing my vege garden and thinking about what I wanted to do.'

During this time of contemplation (and healing) Lynley decided to spend the rest of her life doing what gave her the most pleasure. ‘I have always loved gardening and horticulture so I decided I was going to learn all about the plants through Otago Polytechnic – I was going to soak it all up like a sponge, and sit in the front of the class.'

Lynley did the National Certificate in Horticulture last year, is doing an advanced Certificate this year, and she loves her study so much she's going to do the Level 5 Diploma next year. She has particularly enjoyed the revegetation work for the Orokonui Ecosanctuary and the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust.

Although she left school at 15 without a qualification, and at 53 is the oldest in her classes, Lynley has found huge support for adult learners at the Polytechnic. 'The tutors are just so marvellous I can’t fault them at all. They give you so much encouragement. It was my own determination that got me there, but you only have to ask for the help. And The Learning Centre gives you every opportunity so I can’t see how anybody can’t learn.

It's been absolutely perfect and before that I never would have thought of going back to school at all. I think sometimes if you have a bit of a scare in life you get a new lease on life, and I just love my life. Going to the Poly has been absolutely fabulous for me.'

Note: if you want to see pictures of Lynley's garden (where Fleur's Restaurant source their parsley) hunt out the August 2009 edition of New Zealand Gardener.