Former policewoman Linda Thompson joins Sydney Community Services’ as a gardening services team leader this month after 25 years in the NSW Police Force. Linda was leader of the mapping operations team which creates maps for evidence in court and for police operations for big events such as New Year’s Eve and Anzac Day.
“The maps for events are a blueprint for deploying police on the day,” she explains.
Yet she’d always hankered to do gardening so she kicked off her career change with TAFE’s Certificate 3 in Horticulture which she completed part-time in a busy two years.
“I just drank in every word the teachers spoke: it was like lighting a flame,” says Linda.
As well as nurturing local residents’ gardens, Linda is cultivating a family tradition because her parents were keen gardeners who often entered their home garden in the local Hills Shire competition.
The gardening team day starts at 7.30 a.m. picking up volunteer gardeners with whom she gardens until around midday. Gardeners then do various tasks such as meeting new clients and assessing their gardening services needs or working on smaller gardens which don’t require a team.
“I have only been on the job with volunteers for three days and I am already impressed with what an incredibly hardworking bunch they are. They don’t just give up their time – they put in a huge effort,” says Linda.
“So it’s great to be part of this team and, of course, I’m thrilled to be called a ‘lady tradie’.”
