When Planet Ark’s National Tree Day began in 1996, the current students at Kiama High School were not even born.

But the trees they have planted recently will be there for generations to come.

Since its inception, National Tree Day has had an extraordinary impact with 28 million trees planted, 5 million volunteers, and 10 million hours’ of time donated.

Kiama High School social science and HSIE teacher Paul Berry explained his role with National Tree Day began as a helper and progressed into the organiser of the day for the school.

“There was another teacher called John Brown, who started it, and I was a helper in that first year [1996], and then I have been organising it from 1997 onwards,” Berry said.

This year the trees were planted across three Council-managed sites: Bombo Headland, Seven Mile Beach and Minnamurra Whale Watching Platform.

The students also planted at three other sites not managed by Council: the Shoalhaven Heads Surf Club, Minnamurra Rainforest and Curries Mountain.

Minnamurra Rainforest was one of the original sites where the tree planting began and while the students do a day of planting, Berry honoured the volunteer groups for the maintenance.

“It’s hard to get the students out, but we get them out for a day and get them to appreciate what’s going on,” Berry said.

“If it wasn’t for the hard work of all the Landcare groups, then none of this would happen.”

Luke Lister, Kiama Council’s environmental sustainability officer, said the event gives students life skills and fosters a greater understanding of environmentalism.

“This event engages the community to help give back to our environment and assist the restoration of natural areas,” Lister said.

“When community actively contributes to projects like this, it increases a sense of belonging and ownership, and encourages advocacy for our local environment.

“Community members can take the skills they learned on the day with them into the future and perhaps assist environmental restorations in other areas, or even be inspired to join a Landcare group or similar.

“The community will also benefit from increased amenity and environmental outcomes at each site, and the local wildlife will appreciate the habitat that has been created [for] years to come.”

Since the Tree Planting Day inception nearly three decades ago, Berry has witnessed massive growth.

“Some of these areas have been really transformed from a bunch of weeds into magnificent forests,” Berry said.

For the students, Berry sees it as a fun and enjoyable day where students are engaging in the larger topics of climate change, but also learning about the mental health benefits of being outdoors.

“It’s a little bit of a mental health day too, they have a little bit of free time, and they can have a little play on the beach, just embracing nature.”

With the free time at Kendall’s Beach for the students, Minnamurra Lions Club supplied BBQs, tongs and a generous hand to prepare sausage sizzle which was provided by Council.

There were reports from last year’s event that a student held the record of consuming 14 sausage sandwiches. However, it seems this year the students did not have the appetite to challenge.  

Kiama High School gave out awards to the best worker in each group, but Berry conceded that all students worked hard and were deserving of an award.

“Everyone’s putting in their hard work and some put in amazing amounts of work and for others, it is just a day out and have a bit of fun,” Berry said.

For more information on National Tree Day, head to: https://nationaltreeday.org.au/.

For more information on Landcare Illawarra, head to: https://landcareillawarra.org.au/

For more information on Kiama Council’s Environment policies, head to: https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Services/Environment