The former Wodonga youth ambassador put a $750 scholarship he received towards the creation of a sensory garden at the Upper Murray Family Care Aged and Disability Services’ centre in Nordsvan Drive.

The centre operates the disabled children program interchange and aged care services.

Mr Shay, who is also an Interchange volunteer, received the ambassador award in 2012 for his commitment to the organisation, and said he hoped children would like the water feature.

“I love it — it’s brilliant,” he said.

“I just didn’t expect it to be so amazing.”

Mr Shay, who finished high school last year, was inspired to help others after he survived a cardiac arrest while on a family holiday in New Zealand in 2011.

Interchange manager Jan Bence said the donation spoke volumes for Mr Shay’s personality.

“He’s an extremely generous person and is always concerned and thinking of other people,” she said.

Ms Bence said the garden was intended to be educational and recreational.

“We wanted to have an outdoor environment that was inviting and stimulating,” she said.

The water feature is dedicated to the centre’s many volunteers.