Locals rally to support woman lambasted over ‘deplorable’ front yard
A disgruntled neighbour left an anonymous letter decrying the Ackroyds' front garden. Photo: Supplied/Ebony Ackroyd.
Green-thumbed good samaritans have come to the aid of a Victorian woman who received an anonymous letter, taking aim at her “deplorable” front yard.
Last week, Ebony Ackroyd received a letter in her mailbox, warning her to “shape up or ship out” of her Hamilton neighbourhood over a lack of shrubs.
“Just take a walk up the street and observe every house — there’s none in the deplorable, lazy state of yours,” the letter read.
The letter that kicked it all off. Photo: Supplied/Emily Ackroyd.
“If you and your husband can afford fancy haircuts, then you can damn well afford six shrubs.”
The abusive missive sparked an outpouring of support on social media for the Ackroyd family, and their “deplorable” garden.
Some people sent letters of support and even a hamper ahead of Christmas.
Now, family, friends and the Hamilton community have taken things a step further, combining money and manpower to overhaul the maligned front yard.
It’s just insane how much support we have received.”
‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’
Despite the attention the letter received, its author is still unknown.
Some of the donations made to the Ackroyd family. Photo: Supplied/Ebony Ackroyd.
“When we got back, the whole family came down with gastro — and that’s when we received the letter.
“So you just never know what someone is going through.”
She said it was important not to judge a book by its cover.
We have had a pretty rough time lately, so that [the letter] was just the icing on the cake.
“I hope this makes people think about what they are doing, and how that may affect other people.”
– ABC
