MAIDA Vale garden creator and well-known local identity Tom Hogg (86) has been nominated for an Awards Australia Foundation local legend WA community achievement award.

Mr Hogg is the creator of the Romancing the Stone garden where over the past 25 years he has transformed his own home from a rundown and neglected property into a community treasure, as reported in Tom’s garden romance going strong.

“My Dad has always been dedicated to community service and is still working hard to provide benefits to the community where he is changing lives through his generosity and hard physical labour,” his daughter Trudi said.

“He has always been raising money for something through Rotary, the Freemasons or small businesses that he owned.

“One of his most successful projects was working with the Amanda Young Foundation where he raised awareness and funds for meningococcal disease.

“The success of the Amanda Young Foundation and the Darling Range Hub, both of which he has significantly supported, will persist due to the strong foundations he helped establish.”

She said her father’s simple philosophy in life had always been to devote yourself to creating something with purpose and meaning in your own life.

“He always instilled in me the values to work hard for what you want and to help others along the way, always learning as you go.”

Ms Hogg said her father had completed most of the work on his Romancing the Stone garden singlehandedly.

“After buying the property in July 2000 he purchased and carted more than 2000 tonnes of rocks and cemented them into position himself.

“Through various charities he has been able to raise about $640,000 towards helping their cause by using his garden for open gardens and the like over the past 25 years.”

Mr Hogg said he unfortunately suffered a setback recently when he had to undergo a hip replacement.

“This set me back from doing some things but everything has still proceeded the same as other years.”

He said he was still able to hold some successful charity concerts and continues to be involved with the Cannington Community Education Support Centre.

“This is to help teenage children on the spectrum to gain working skills and experience that can help them gain employment opportunities in the future,” Mr Hogg said.

He said he is always looking for new charities to be involved with.

To contact Mr Hogg call 9454 4298 or email tom hogg6455@gmail.com