As the school year recently wound to a close, Castlemaine Secondary College (CSC) students, staff and School Council representatives gathered with community leaders for an official ceremony to commemorate the trees planted in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee.
CSC received a $10,000 grant towards the project which celebrated the late Queen Elizabeth II’s incredible 70 year reign.
Funding for the project was made possible thanks to the former Morrison Government’s ‘Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee Program’ and a plaque will be installed as a lasting reminder of Queen Elizabeth’s legacy.
CSC School Council president Beth Mellick welcomed everyone in attendance including Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters and Mount Alexander Shire Council mayor Rosie Annear and thanked Ms Chesters for her support and encouragement of CSC in applying for the grant program.
Ms Mellick said the project faced a lot of obstacles with numerous delays and their proposed contractor falling ill.
“In the end we enlisted the help of parents and students to get the trees in the ground,” Ms Mellick said.
Mayor Annear said the trees planted in two locations will offer much needed shade during the hot summer months, but they also connect native vegetation from surrounding bushland into the school grounds.
“I’m told future plans include additional plantings of understorey vegetation and then a First Nations ceremonial circle. This is a wonderful inclusion considering the work this school does in creating a culturally safe space,” Ms Annear said.
Ms Chesters said a lot had happened since the grants were announced with the passing of the Queen and the election of a new government.
The local member said the project represented a moment in our history. “It’s very fitting to have two parts of our history here – our connection to the monarchy and our First Nations heritage,” she said.
Ms Chesters also announced the school had been successful in attaining a further $10,000 from the newly elected Albanese Federal Government to continue enhancing outdoor learning spaces and plantings at the redeveloped campus.