Pat Jones has lived on her Yenda property since 1965 and continues to work in her garden, water her plants, mow some lawn and direct her own farming business.

“It’s in my family culture to keep working and not be sitting down doing nothing,” Mrs Jones said.

“And it all keeps me going and active, I don’t have aches or pains.

“It’s not easy sometimes, but you can’t have a ship without a captain because otherwise you will end up on the rocks.”

Mrs Jones said her garden and farm business both started from humble beginnings and with plenty of hard work and determination things had slowly grown and succeeded.

“I’ve always taken one step at a time and it’s important to take time to make a decision because time will take care of the rest,” Mrs Jones said.

The floods of 2012 saw years of hard work undone with both the property and garden inundated with water and severely damaged.

Despite the damage Mrs Jones and her late husband John were determined to get back into their home but soon after Mr Jones passed away.

Having never lived by herself before, Mrs Jones debated the idea of leaving the property after her husband’s death but said she couldn’t turn her back on everything they worked so hard for.

“I couldn’t just leave it and I won’t leave unless I have to,” Mrs Jones said.

“It’s part of me, when I wake up I think I am in paradise.”

Mrs Jones said the garden gives her great passion and drive and after 51 years each plant, sculpture or fixture has a story to tell.

“It’s the garden that keeps me going,” Mrs Jones said.

“The garden and house are full of memories and this is where I belong.

“It’s full of plants from so many different people, that’s how it started, you would get a cutting or plant from a friend or family member and it would just grow.”