Tree planting ceremony to mark tomorrow’s NAIDOC Week march

Published on 12 July 2018

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Rockhampton Regional Council is proudly partnering with the Rockhampton NAIDOC Committee for a special tree planting ceremony held tomorrow as part of the annual NAIDOC Week march.

Starting at City Hall in Bolsover Street, participants will march to a site opposite the Rockhampton Cricket Grounds, and plant native trees including Burdekin plums, melaleucas, gumbi gumbi and casuarinas.

Rockhampton NAIDOC Committee Member, Kristina Hatfield, said the march and tree planting is one of the highlights of a week filled with great events.

“It’s been a very busy past week – we’ve had the Torres Strait Islander Coming of the Light, a netball clinic, community Elders Morning Tea – all in line with this year’s NAIDOC Week theme – ‘Because of her, we can’. We’ve also started the week with NAIDOC flag raising ceremony.”

“The planting is a great way to mark the march. The kids love this idea, carrying their plants during the march and then being able to plant it alongside their parents and grandparents. It’s something that they can yarn about with their kids and grandkids in years to come.”

Environment Councillor, Drew Wickerson, said Council was proud to supply around 150 plants for the march after starting the initiative at last year’s event.

“Council has a strong and enduring partnership with the Darumbal community, the traditional custodians of our great area,” Cr Wickerson said.

“A feature of the NAIDOC March tomorrow morning which Council is proud to help with is the symbolic tree planting at a special site opposite the Rockhampton Cricket Grounds.

“We can’t wait to see hundreds of children proudly march from City Hall and across the Fitzroy Bridge bearing native trees to signify connection with country and environment and also passing on culture to future generations.”