Commerce Ballarat aims to provide strong leadership when it comes to doing business in greater Ballarat. One of the important ways it does this is by encouraging sustainable thinking and purchasing trees for our local tree planting projects.

This year, Commerce Ballarat pledged one tree for every entry in their annual Business Excellence Awards. Sixty-six entries were received across a number of categories such as Professional Services Award, Customer Service Award and Newcomer Business Award. We congratulate all nominees and winners, the competition was outstanding.

The trees (66) were planted by Napolean’s Landcare at Cambrian Hill Nature Reserve and were a mixture of wattles, sedges, mat rush and a variety of gums. In future, these trees, shrubs and grasses will provide native insects, small mammals and birds with habitat. In turn, these animals will become prey for our local raptors, such as owls, falcons, kites and hawks.

Thank you Commerce Ballarat for helping businesses thrive long-term, and what better metaphor for that than a seedling that grows into a tree? It is simply no longer possible to separate excellence in business from social and environmental responsibility. We all have a part to play, and organisations like Commerce Ballarat are helping to lead the way.

Writer: Colleen Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start the company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.