National Tree Day Sunday 28 July saw five clubs in the Maribyrnong Valley Community Group partner with Moonee Valley Council for a huge tree planting exercise. Presidents and members from Brunswick-Tullamarine, Flemington-Kensington, Keilor East and North Melbourne joined with Rotary Footscray and braved the clear but wintery conditions to restore, replenish and extend the habitat lost during the 2022 floods of the Maribyrnong River.
Danny Pearson MP for Essendon, local Councillors, District Governor Michael Lapiña, DGE Peter Shepheard and Rotary Activate President Alex Lapina joined the large group of committed Rotarians and other community members led by Milly Burke, Moonee Valley’s Conservations Program Officer and her team, to plant 6,000 seedlings over a three-hour period, Moonee Valley Sustainability, Maribyrnong Riverkeeper Association, Essendon Guides and Scouts, Friends of Steele Creek, Merri-Bek Landcare and the Sikh communities also participated. A mixture of shrubs {acacias, Correa, Grevillea and Myoporum} groundcovers and wildflowers and grasses {Dianella, Lomandra, Poa, Themeda, Chrysocephalum and Leptorynchos} were planted, all native to the Maribyrnong valley. Pre dug holes and spread of mulch by council and Merri-Bek Landcare eased the process as did the supply of gloves, trowels, kneelers and watering cans from council.
An extensive environmental display was showcased with ESRAG Oceania representatives discussing all things environmental and providing booklets and handouts.
The Fairbairn Park wildlife corridor is a major birdlife, pollinator and small wildlife habitat along the Maribyrnong River and is part of the ‘lungs of the west”. The wildlife habitat and pollination corridor development was started by Flemington Kensington in 2021 to establish plantings linking the corridor from north of Melbourne Airport and through to Royal Park and the Yarra River. Many of the small shrubs, grounds cover and understorey plantings were destroyed in the floods in October 2022. This healthy tree and plant corridor also supports the health of the river and the fish, amphibians and waterbirds which call it home.
As well as planting, participants were given local native seedlings to take home; and enjoyed the traditional Rotary sausage sizzle, free coffee and drinks, face painting and other children’s activities including displays of frogs, blue tongue lizards, insects and beetles and a huge nest created from recovered branches and twigs. Moonee Valley Sustainability and the Maribyrnong Riverkeeper held their favourite tree competition and gave away “keepcups”This day would not have been the success it was without so many people coming together and making a difference in the world. The Maribyrnong Valley Rotary Community Group, led by David Dippie is showing how clubs can work together to inspire, connect and transform communities. Presidents of Brunswick-Tullamarine, Flemington-Kensington, Keilor East and North Melbourne led the way.