Mr Smith is an ambassador for the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and said he liked to visit any indigenous community any chance he could get. 

Along the way Mr Smith and Mr McNamara will stop in Charleville to visit Aussie Helpers as well as in Cloncurry and in Burketown, and on the return home will stop at Cracow Hotel – owned by travelling boxing tent owner Fred Brophy. 

He looked forward to opening the garden which would sustain the island with fresh fruit and vegetables.  

“It’s a wonderful idea, when these communities were run by missions and the church people they often had gardens,” Mr Smith said. 

“A lot of those gardens stopped and the mission people stopped being involved.” 

It would be good to leave Sydney for the four day trip. 

“I love it because I’m seeing the real Australians and I consider Aboriginal people the original Australians,” Mr Smith said. 

Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, who will attend the opening, said the Mornington Shire Council had done a fantastic job putting together the garden – which was necessary considering the community’s high rate of diabetes. 

“Diabetes is another name for malnutrition – lack of fresh fruit and vegetables,” Mr Katter said. 

“Our nation has to be measured on how we treat our poorest people, this is one of the most important things that need to be done. 

“We deeply appreciate Dick helping out here with a few bob...but also with Dick comes national attention.” 

Mornington Shire Council’s chief executive Frank Mills said the garden was symbolic of the council’s future for the shire. 

“From little things, big – positive, wonderful, colourful, healthy – things grow.

“Families will be able to care for a communal garden place that will offer fruits, herbs and vegetables once it becomes more established.”