When he was young, Colby was subject to sexual abuse and rape at the hands of male friends of his foster parents, which in turn led to him “on the streets, with a career in alcohol and drug abuse”.

When a detective in his home town called years later to tell him they were investigating the high school principal for sexual abuse, Colby revealed all the emotions of that time in his life bubbled to the surface, sending him “into a deep depression”.

“I got a call from a detective in Lismore that told me the old principal was under investigation – I’d sent in a complaint years and years to the Catholic Church and got nothing back,” Colby explained. “I’d tucked all that deep down and when I got this phone call from the detective I sank into a spiral of depression and grief.”

“I became suicidal, and I was a total mess.”

While composting in his backyard – a past time he had long followed – Colby was struck with an epiphany.

“I was breaking all these things down and turning them towards another purpose, and I was at a low point in my life. I had turned to permaculture and it was a light in the tunnel,” he said.

“I looked at these things I was composting and what was happening to them over time and I realised that my life was a similar thing – all these bad and undesirable things were going into growing into a new life.

“Compost saved my life.”

Colby certainly hasn’t let the traumatic experiences of his past life effect what has become a new beginning.

“The path I’m now following saved me from a painful life of toxicity, trauma and shame,” he said.

The path that Colby has found himself on is one that he wants to share, and is looking for people to join him in the garden.

“It’s all about living sustainably, growing food and making less waste when you’re living your life,” he explained. “I want to share what I found in the garden with everyone.”

“If the earth is treated with respect, and undergoes the process [of composting], it all becomes life-giving, and it brings us so close to God.”

Reverend Colby’s gardening groups will be held in the grounds of the Holy Family Anglican Church in Belmont North, with all welcome to participate. To join call Colby on 0401996961.