David’s Dream | Encourage Dreams Grant Recipient Story | March 2025

Our March 2025 Encourage Dreams Grant Recipient is David Harvey. David and his wife, Adele, have a small business together, ‘Gifts of Lov3’, creating bespoke gifts and home wares.

Gifts of Lov3 was born out of their shared experience overcoming severe mental health struggles, as well as the challenges that disability can bring. Their business has been a fulfilment of a dream that they envisioned together - to use their gifts to create art.

I recently asked David to share some of his story with us for the blog. He has generously been open with his journey through mental health and disability. So without further adieu, here’s David’s story, in his words:

IMAGE: David and Adele

Enriched Care Solutions (ECS): Tell as about yourself; what’s your name and who’s in your family?

David Harvey (DH): My name is Davey Harvey. Married with 4 children, 6 grandchildren, 2 furbabies and 2 feather kids (and a whole lot of wildlife that think they belong to us too... lol). I consider myself one of the luckiest people on earth as I have a loving and caring wife who will do anything to enrich our lives for the better. Our story really is a love partnership.

ECS: Adele seems integral to your story, can you tell us more about how you met and came to be together?

DH: We met when we were teenagers. I was Adele's first boyfriend… As time went on, Adele's dad got a job in Western Australia and they moved just before her 15th birthday. We did catch up when she travelled back to Tasmania for holidays but shortly after her 18th birthday we parted ways and really never spoke again.

I eventually married my now ex partner and had 2 wonderful children.

About 13 years back, Adele sent me a friend request on social media… (At that time) I had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and diagnosed as NOT Job Ready. I had suffered severe childhood trauma and had also done severe damage to my shoulder in my later years. My psychologist had prescribed heavy medication and I had suicidal tendencies at the time. My then wife was not supporting me and due to other circumstances, we slowly drifted apart… Adele read my posts, reached out and we chatted over messenger. She too was going through a rough patch…

It was then not until 2015 that (Adele and I) started chatting again. Adele reached out as she was severely depressed… She was working in a highly stressful real estate position in Western Australia and had just lost her closest uncle / father figure / godfather. I think it was at that time that I told her that I had also separated and was no longer with my wife.

We started chatting as I was able to support her and listen as she did to me. I felt a support and love that I had not felt in a long time. Before I knew it I was on a plane moving to the top end of Western Australia to replenish the relationship we had lost when we were 14 and 16. We moved back to Tassie in 2015…

Our relationship is what has kept me going. Her support and understanding is unmatchable. Her love for my children and grandchildren does not differ from that of her own children and grandchildren. We are lucky to have found each other again. We have both overcome our reliance of painkillers and depression tablets. We are both supportive of each other's needs and I totally would be lost without her support.

…We are on a Disability Pension and Carers Pension and Adele works 12 hours a week to help provide a better life for us both. She is always giving up whatever is needed to ensure others have before taking for herself.

IMAGE: David’s photography

ECS: Wow, what an incredible story. How else have you been able to overcome your mental health struggles?

DH: Adele bought me a digital camera two years ago and a drone. It was to encourage me to take photos when we camped to share with others, but she also encouraged me to find the right photographs so that we might be able to sell them as postcards. I achieved this and now sell my postcards through the Bottomshop Maydena. Adele makes souvenirs and also sells those too. The camera and the drone help me fight my demons. I lose the voices when I concentrate on that one in a million shot.

ECS: And you didn’t stop there! How have you continued to use your art to heal and help others?

DH: Recently Adele started a business called Gifts of Lov3. She is always creative and between us both we are aiming to produce all sorts from Milestones, Keyrings, Postcards and Cups to Etched giftware and laser cut items supporting Mental Health.

ECS: Why did you apply for the Encourage Dreams Grant?

DH: We were looking through ways to help us purchase setup machinery and found the grant details online… The Grant will help us buy the Laser and I will be able to unleash my inner creative being… we hope this will be the start of a home based business allowing Adele to be home with me pursuing a passion and making a difference, however small it may be.

ECS: How can we continue to support your dream through your business?

DH: We are on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574767763594 

ECS: Thanks David for being so open with your story. We can’t wait to watch your dream grow!

DH: Embrace Kindness, David