Schools and communities across the Mitchell Shire once again took their shovels and contributed to nature in light of National Tree Day on Sunday.
National Tree Day is Australia’s largest tree planting and nature care event, with Schools Tree Day taking place on Friday, July 26, providing an excellent opportunity for individuals, schools, and businesses to contribute to the environment.
Kilmore Primary School celebrated the event in partnership with Kilmore Toyota on Friday, who has supported the school with National Tree Day since 2017 and is dedicated to fostering environmental awareness and community engagement.
Students took part in the planting, including the school’s garden ambassadors in Grade 6 and those who are passionate about and involved in the school’s gardening program.
The ambassadors said it was important to have National Tree Day as it supported the growth of more trees.
Kilmore Primary School wellbeing worker Mez Miller said the students embraced the activity.
“The students love gardening, most of them love gardening. They sort of embrace it – they love to pick the fruit, eat the fruit, make things out of the fruit,” she said.
Despite the extreme winds last Wednesday, Our Lady of The Way Catholic Primary School students also made the effort to give back to nature.
Grade 5 Leader Teacher Jennifer Bryan said it was a task she was passionate about, and one that she could share with the rest of her students.
“We’re doing it as a Grade 5 class. It is something that I’m very passionate about – getting students outdoors in nature. It is also part of the curriculum – it ties in with science and more aspects of the curriculum,” she said.
“When the students plant the trees, they respect them more, and they develop a love for them and a love for the garden, and a passion, but even watching the students with the gardening tools, it’s just amazing.”
Upper Merri Creek Landcare Facilitator Chris Cobern once again partnered with the school for the annual event, showing the students how to take care of nature with the necessary tools.
“The real important thing is, you can see how much the students are enjoying it – getting outdoors, planting trees – and then they will be able to see and watch the growth of this area in their school,” he said.
“It’s all new to these students. It’s a different group than last year, but they’re having so much fun, and doing a good job … hopefully it gives them an idea or maybe a feeling of doing more of this work throughout their life as well.
“So, when they see other opportunities at home, with their friends, or scout groups, or other community groups, getting involved, helping improve the environment of the local area, which in the long run helps the whole planet really.”
