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. This year Commerce Ballarat decided to plant one tree for every entry in its annual Business Excellence Awards.

We think this is a brilliant strategy on several levels. Firstly, what a great incentive to nominate a business doing excellent work! Secondly, Commerce Ballarat is all about helping businesses thrive long-term, and what better metaphor for that than a seedling that grows into a tree? And thirdly, 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.

The 2021 Business Excellence Awards finalists are a very impressive bunch. All the finalists have displayed resilience, ingenuity, and an inspiring capacity to thrive during a difficult couple of years, and we take our hats off to them. Good luck to all. In all, 78 entries were received in the 2021 Business Excellence Awards. And one tree has been planted for every entry in this year’s Business Excellence Awards. The trees have been planted at Sovereign Hill’s farm property, Narmbool, a thriving sustainable not-for-profit enterprise in itself. The site regularly runs environmental education programs for school groups and corporations. Participants can learn about how to regenerate fragile ecosystems, including by getting their hands dirty planting trees. The trees planted on behalf of Commerce Ballarat include Sheoaks, Dogwood, Hedge Wattle and Messmate Stringybark to name but a few of the species now in the ground at the site.

Thank you to supporters of Fifteen Trees. You have enabled us to continue our revegetation work at Narmbool. At this stage we are working on Williamsons Creek. Here we wish to improve the quality of the water and increase habitat for the endangered species of frog that we have on site – Growling Grass Frog

Mathew Dowler | Co-ordinator | Narmbool Environmental Discover Camps

Our thanks to Commerce Ballarat for its commitment to recognising excellence, supporting the regional economy in myriad ways, and giving a helping hand to the environment as well.

If you are also interested in how your business and Fifteen Trees could work together, contact Bianca at <[email protected]> and ask for a proposal that will fit in with your business model.

Colleen Filippa

Founder | Director

Fifteen Trees