Community & Business
21 May, 2025
A day among the trees well spent
IN a vibrant celebration of nature, community and culture, every student at Malanda State School rolled up their sleeves and planted a tree as a living promise to protect one of the last remaining strongholds of rainforest habitat in the region.
School principal Mark Allen said 500 trees were provided to the school for the recent event, which was a significant step in expanding the school’s thriving rainforest corridor that provides vital habitat for local wildlife, including the rare and elusive Lumholtz’s tree kangaroo.
“More than just a planting day, this initiative was a lesson in sustainability, biodiversity, and the lifelong power of environmental custodianship,” Mr Allen said.
“With each sapling planted, students laid roots for more than just trees, their small hands now carried a big responsibility: to care for one of the world’s most precious ecosystems.”
As one Year 4 student said: “This is our home, we’re planting trees so the animals have somewhere to live, and so we can breathe clean air when we grow up.”
As young voices chattered under the canopy of towering trees, ancient stories were also shared, as local First Nations rangers and elders from the Choorechillum community talked of cultural knowledge and connections to Country.
“Their presence brought powerful meaning to the day, reminding us that we all walk together on land that has been cared for by Traditional Custodians for thousands of years,” Mr Allen said.
“This isn’t just about trees - it’s about teaching our children that they are part of something bigger,” he said. “They’re not just learning about the rainforest, they’re growing up as guardians of it.”
Local Elder, Uncle Tom said: “It’s deadly for these young ones to come to the forest and learn from nature. We all have to learn from one another – both ways”.
In partnership between Malanda State School, the P&C Association led by Gemma Horner, Choorechillum Rangers and supported by the Tablelands Regional Council and the Malanda Landcare Group, the project is part of a wider vision to embed sustainability and environmental education into everyday school life.
“These partnerships have helped bring science to life, with children learning firsthand about native species, soil health, and the delicate balance of ecosystems,” Mr Allen said.
