Harrison Funerals strive to ensure that every family’s funeral experience is a positive one and through their care and service they are able to ease some of the grief and assist the healing process’. With the assistance of Fifteen Trees, Harrison Funerals plant one mature tree on the behalf of every family who use their service.

Site A | Food is Free Landway | 10 mature trees

This orchard at Food Is Free Laneway in honour of a friend they called Kiwi Bill. A kindly soul who helped establish the Laneway in 2014 – 2015 but sadly passed away with cancer. Having left a big mark on the Food Is Free Inc. team, Founder/Director of Food Is Free Inc. promised Kiwi Bill to plant a fruit orchard upon his passing for visitors to the food security platform to forever remember him.

The orchard was planted by neighbours of the Laneway. Once established, the trees will produce beautiful fruit and will provide food for the neighbourhood, and visitors to the Laneway.

It is a lovely thought that Harrison Funerals have assisted tree plantings for our hometown (Ballarat) to continually bring about community cohesion and address some long-term food security issues our town experiences.

Lou Ridsdale | Founder | Food is Free

The tree planting session was made possible by the kind donation from David Franzo of Harrison Funerals (Ballarat). The project was facilitated by Fifteen Trees. A local nursery and soil health company provided the soil and organic fertilisers to help the trees grow, and a local winery provided wine barrels to house the trees in – making it a 100% locally funded project with donated goods. A classic example of community, schools and businesses coming together for the greater good.

Site B | Ballarat Agricultural Society | 20 mature trees

These trees have enhanced the new Ballarat Showgrounds and in years to come, they will give shade and shelter to the public who come with their families to experience all that the Showgrounds has to offer.

On Sunday 12^th September, a small group of BAPS volunteers gathered at the site of the future Ballarat Showgrounds and Events Precinct to plant 20 bare rooted Cleveland Pear Trees donated through Harrions Funerals. The trees were planted along the boundary at Rosehill Road.

The trees will make a beautiful display in Springtime when they are all out in blossom and in later years will provide some shade in what will be a public parking area.

Thank you to Harrisons for your generous donation to our Ballarat environment.

Elizabeth van Beek | President | BAPS

Site C | Pinarc | 20 mature trees

Pinarc Disability Support has been empowering people with disabilities since 1999. We were delighted to offer them 20 mature trees to enhance the back fence at their centre in Otway St, Ballarat. The organisation is hoping to encourage native birds by planting a mixture of native trees and orchard trees.

Once again, a huge thank you to Harrison Funerals for supporting the beautiful Ballarat district by purchasing trees for community groups. Since 2010, Harrison Funerals have helped plant over 800 mature trees. Thank you!

Writer – Lou Ridsdale

Lou is a big-minded green thumb, Earth Lover, big-hearted nature freak plus a savvy media and horticulture expert, who passionately believe that everyone is capable of leading a more nourishing and sustainable life. Her passion for education + communication being the most empowering tool for change is reflected in her setting up her own digital/comms agency Hey Hoe Let’s Grow Socials. She also founded Food Is Free Inc. a unique grassroots food security platform specialising in food security education. She fell in love with trees after reading The Magic Faraway Tree as a child.

You can find Lou here