Roman Deguchi and Matt Coe are Redfern/Waterloo born and raised.
They are best friends who spent their teens together, playing sport and running amok.
But now the pair have banded together to give back to their community.
In 2021, they created WildFlower Gardens for Good.
It's an Indigenous-led, not-for-profit social enterprise, with the purpose of creating and nurturing "native green spaces while empowering communities".
They're currently working to create a native garden at St Andrews College at the University of Sydney.
"It's probably one of our biggest projects. It started two weeks ago," Matt told NITV.
The garden built by the WildFlower team at the University of Sydney residence. Credit: Rachael Knowles/NITV
He's very proud of what the team's done on the grounds, saying they're already seeing positive results.
"There are all these birds coming to see us," he said.
"Local magpies, kookaburras, [they're] already coming.
"That's the rewarding part: seeing very quickly that when you give back to Country, Country gives back to you."
Magpies bathing in the bird bath WildFlower installed in the garden at St Andrews College USYD. Source: Supplied
Guiding young Redfern men
For both Roman and Matt, WildFlower was a way to give back to their home and to support the success of young ones.
"For me, WildFlower is about giving back to the community that took me in when I was a lost soul as a teenager," he said.
"I've been part of the community now since I was a young boy. The community raised me in a lot of ways and now it's time for me to give back.
"I'm passionate about the younger generation. I want to see the younger generation live a better life than what we did and I want to see them succeed and do well."
Matt and Roman have hired a team of about 20 young Aboriginal men from Redfern/Waterloo.
For most of the boys, it's their first time working in landscaping, and for some, it's their first job ever.
"The aim is to break barriers," said Matt.
"All of the boys are aged between 19 and 25 ... some have been in trouble with the law. It's just about breaking barriers and showing people that Blackfullas can do good."
Matt and Roman on-site at the WildFlower garden at St Andrews College, USYD. Credit: Bronte Charles/NITV
"It's the growth that we're seeing on a day-to-day basis and the skills that the boys are taking on and applying to other things," he said.
"They're developing a passion for what we do."
It's a family business for the Wiradjuri man, whose own two sons are working for him.
"I've got two of my boys working so that's where the grey hairs come from I think," laughs Uncle Matt.
"You just see the joy in the boys, especially when they build a garden from nothing."
At just 19, Malachi is one of Wildflower's youngest workers.
He grew up in Redfern so has known most of his colleagues since childhood.
"Everyone here I grew up with since I was a baby. I've played sport with them all. They're all my brothers, not friends," he said.
"I've known Uncle Matt my whole life, he used to coach me in basketball."
The WildFlower team at the first day of building the garden at St Andrews College, USYD. Source: Supplied
"[I love] making native gardens. There's not many native gardens around here. No one does what we do so it's good to do it and give back to the community," he said.
"One of our biggest jobs was at Sydney airport. That was one of my favourites because there were heaps of plants, all native and there's never been native plants at the airport ever."
It's more than work for Malachi, who says planting native plants lets the boys "learn a little bit more about culture".
Some of the garden built by the WildFlower team at St Andrews College, USYD. Credit: Bronte Charles/NITV
But when it comes to WildFlower's future, Matt has a goal.
"My dream is to be New South Wales wide," he said.
"And to have every mission as a WildFlower."
