The Southern Mitchell Rotary’s Monster Tree Planting Day on Sunday, June 16, attracted volunteers from as far afield as Doncaster. Thanks to 125 volunteers, 3300 indigenous shrubs and grasses are now populating the banks of the Sugarloaf catchment area.
The project is in its 23rd year and over 123,000 native trees have made it into the ground, helping to reduce bank erosion.
Environmental Director of the Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell (RCSM) Ian Dempsey said it’s important that flora and fauna corridors are re-established, and has a vision where shrubby nature strips link up to improve water quality both near and far.
“This has been an ongoing project and this year we’re planting Banksias, Acacias, and Wattles as they do well here,” he said.
“Forty to 50 years ago it was ‘let’s get rid of the trees so we can have more sheep,’ now it’s ‘let’s get rid of the sheep and get more trees.’
“This is just one of the sections we’ve done in the Glenaroua district, and we can see where ours are gradually linking up to the Melbourne Green Line.”
The RCSM recruits volunteers by reaching out to groups with common interests, with one being the Broadford Scouts group.
President of the First Broadford Scouts group Craig Waters recruited 34 of their members to help on the day. He said the Scouts’ core values are integrity, respect, care, belief, and cooperation, and noted they have participated in the tree planting for the last consecutive 10 years and sporadically before that.
“Environmental activities are a major part of the Scout’s program. Learning about germinating local plant species and how they grow is important. It’s not just about planting a tree, it’s about caring for the environment and its impact on all our futures,” he said.
“Some of our parents are part of the Glenaroua Landcare Group, so information about the event and local environment causes comes from them.”
Among the many volunteers were Rotarians from nearby districts. The Rotary Club of Manningham recruited 30 children from Doncaster East Primary School and 16 members from their Interact cohort. RCSM also welcomed back 20 members from the Pajero 4WD Car Club and around 12 from the Bashion Hunt Club. Everyone enjoyed morning tea with hot drinks and a sausage sizzle for lunch.
“It’s normal for the project to get 100 volunteers, but we’re stoked that half of them were under 18 – there were kids everywhere. It was fantastic, and the weather gods were good to us,” Mr Dempsy said.
Mr Dempsey said the project’s operational costs were around $16,000, with half the funding coming from Landcare Victoria and the remaining half from the property owner. The plants cost $6 each and came from a local nursery in Reedy Creek. RCSM donated the food and brought along their mobile BBQ.
Speaking to the future, Mr Dempsey noted it would be difficult to plan their next Monster Tree Planting Day as Landcare will not be funding it.
“We’ll return to the same property however, but not for two years. Other Landcare groups are seeking funds too, and maybe it’s someone else’s turn,” he said.
Mr Dempsey said they will investigate other avenues, but cannot proceed next year without financial support.
The RCSM are people of action with a focus on humanitarian aid and environmental causes, and are currently recruiting new members. They meet with a weekly agenda at the Kilmore Trackside each Wednesday at 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start. Socially, they meet every Thursday at 10.30am at various cafés in Kilmore and all are welcome to attend. To learn more, visit www.rcsm.org.au.
