With over 650 members (including Fifteen Trees), from all industries covering private, public and not-for-profit sectors, Commerce Ballarat is supporting Ballarat businesses by creating and driving business activity, providing leadership and advocacy and facilitating knowledge and skill development.

On Wednesday 21st May, Commerce Ballarat held their annual Business Day Out, which consisted of a day’s program featuring a variety of keynote speakers (Danielle Pearce, Jason Clarke, Shaun Briggs, and Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM) and gave the opportunity to all attendees, from across regional Victoria, to network with each other throughout the day.

This year’s business conference not only brought together leaders, innovators, and professionals from across the region, but also left a meaningful legacy for the local community. In a commitment to sustainability, the organisers partnered with Fifteen Trees to plant 150 native trees – one for every attendee at the event. This gesture ensured that the event’s footprint extended beyond the conference centre, contributing directly to the health and resilience of the surrounding environment.

The planting took place at Scotchmans Lead Reserve in an area between Union Jack Creek and Yarmlok Plain, Napoleons, VIC. On the traditional land of the Wadawurrung People. It is here that the Napoleons and Enfield Landcare Group Inc (NELG) are rehabilitating the riparian zone (the areas of land that border rivers, streams, creeks, gullies, and wetlands) along the Yarrowee and Union Jack Creek.

NELG have been rehabilitating this particular site since 1996. Carrying out duties such as:

• planning on going revegetation projects,
• fencing off sensitive sites,
• planting native trees, shrubs and grasses,
• re-establishing frog ponds,
• and instigating weed and pest control.

The new bushland is now home to frogs, rakali (native water rat) echidnas, koalas, wallabies and possums, and associated invertebrate life such as dragonflies, bees and insects. The predominate birds are birds of prey which do well at this site, but the increasing diversity of trees and shrubs is helping to increase the bird species number from about 6 (2010) to over 40 (2025). Kangaroos and koalas are also now present.

We are very pleased to have sponsors contributing to this work, that we have been undertaking for many years. The results are now speaking for themselves, and more people than ever are interested and aware of the importance of protecting and restoring our environment. Financial support is so useful to get things done well and it also represents moral support – which is very motivating

Jenny Ryle | President | Napoleans Enfield Landcare Group Inc.

The trees, all chosen to thrive in the region, will provide habitat for wildlife, stabilise soil, and contribute to the biodiversity of the local landscape. Beyond the environmental benefits, this project also supported the local community by engaging volunteers.

To all the attendees, we hope you also left inspired by the conference sessions, but also proud to know your participation helped create a greener, healthier future for the Yarrowee Creek at Napoloeans/Enfield.

If you’d like to learn more about sponsoring community tree planting projects and how we can support your journey towards becoming a more sustainable business, we’d love to hear from you. We can even arrange a tour of this planting site – taking you for a walk among the trees and showing you first-hand the positive impact of your support. Contact Colleen on 0400 040 659 / <[email protected]>.

Writer: Colleen B. 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.