Mark and Faye Leveson – parents of the late Matthew Leveson – have been shown an act of kindness after an army of volunteers renovated their garden.
Ben Fordham from 2GB recently partnered with Sutherland Shire’s Chris Slaughter, from Scenic Blue Design, to transform the Levesons’ backyard.
Volunteers poured into their Bonnet Bay property over the weekend to complete the project.
“It has been a massive effort by so many people,” Mr Slaughter said. “We decided we would crack it in three days.”
Mr Slaughter said the new garden looked fantastic featuring a rustic pergola, a water feature running down a rebuilt retaining wall, and a path through an arrangement of flowers.
Matthew disappeared in 2007 and it took a decade for his body to be located in May of this year in the Royal National Park.
His parents replanted a palm tree, which was found near his remains, in their garden.
Mr Slaughter said radio presenter Ben Fordham contacted him earlier this year to check on the palm tree which was not looking healthy. From there the two talked about ways they could help the Levesons and they decided to renovate the entire backyard.
“It’s insane. You really need to see the before and after photos to see what it was and what it is now.”
Mr Leveson, speaking on Mr Fordham’s Facebook page, said he was very grateful.
“Words don’t do it justice. The work involved and the effort of these people over the past few days, they have gone above and beyond.”
Mrs Leveson said she was blown away by the generosity.
“It’s amazing. Matty would be so stoked,” she said. “To think that [all these people] would give up their time and supplies and everything else just to help us out and to make us feel a little bit better.”
Everyone who helped out over the three days donated their time and supplies to help.
