Trees to mark half a century at Taroona

TAROONA High School celebrated its 50th anniversary on Schools Tree Day on Friday by planting 50 trees at the school, including two commemorating its most famous former students, Princess Mary of Denmark and Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett.

The school was among more than a hundred statewide that were supplied with more than 5000 seedlings propagated by Forestry Tasmania at its Perth nursery.

Taroona Principal David Hamlett said it was the first time Taroona had taken part in the Australia-wide schools event that precedes National Tree Day held each year on the last Sunday in July.

“The trees will be an enduring commemoration of the school’s beginnings and will enhance its present and future environment,” he said

“They have been planted by our Grade 7 students on the point which has spectacular views over the river.

“The trees will add to the beauty of the location, and give students a practical understanding about how to plant and care for trees as well as their important role in the environment.

“They will be something the students will continue to identify with in future years.”

The plants for the National Tree Day event at Taroona were provided by both Forestry Tasmania and Kingborough Council and Forestry Tasmania Community Liaison officer Katrina French was on hand to help the students plant the seedlings.

“Forestry Tasmania has donated blackwood, she oak and Oyster Bay pines which will provide a natural variety of species suited to the area,” she said.

“This year Forestry Tasmania has donated more than 1000 seedlings to 38 schools in the Derwent District and similar amounts in the other four Forestry districts in the State.”

Forestry Tasmania managing director Bob Gordon said the recent release of the Federal Government’s Green Paper on carbon emissions trading had emphasised the positive role forests can play in reducing emissions.

“Just one tree has the capacity to absorb more than a tonne of carbon over the course of its lifetime, so it's not hard to make a difference,” he said.

“Forestry Tasmania has participated in the Schools Trees Days for a number of years and during that time has donated many thousands of seedlings to hundreds of schools.”

Forestry Tasmania also plants about13,000 hectares of seeds and plants a year as part of its sustainable forestry practices.


ENDS

For details of other events held as part of Schools Tree Day phone your local school.

For more information phone 6233 8249