The Heroic Gardens, an annual event in Auckland's HERO Festival each February, is now in the planning stages for it's 11th year, to be held on the 17th and 18th of February 2007. Organiser Shane Neal tells GayNZ.com the event has raised over $375,000 in the decade so far. “These funds were donated to the Auckland City Mission to assist with the running of Herne Bay House. In the first year $8000 was raised and last year alone we raised $60,000.” Herne Bay house has now closed, so the committee of Heroic Gardens has decided to direct the funds raised from next year's festival to The Burnett Centre/Wellness Fund. “This continues the original intention of the group who met in 1995 to discuss the possibility of a Gay Garden festival to raise funds to assist those whom where HIV positive,” explains Neal. Neal joined the Heroic Gardens committee in 2001, and became chair this year. His partner Damien has now joined the committee as ‘chairess'. “I love working with Heroic Gardens as it is one way I can give back to the community who embraced me when I came out and my birth family turned their backs on me,” Neal explains. “Since I was a young lad I can remember being keen on gardening and my mother one day getting annoyed that I had so many plants around her garden. She asked me to specialize in one type of plant. I choose cacti and succulents, and so Dad built me a shade house to put all my plants in. “I had my garden in the festival in 2000. The positive feedback you get from total strangers who come to see your garden gives you such a lift.” The Heroic Garden committee is looking for gardens for 2007's event. To get involved, contact Shane Neal on 09 828 5171 or 0274 421744. Ref: GayNZ.com (m)