[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

I have loads of people to thank for the 260 trees that were planted at the Koala Reserve at Kinglake during National Tree Week (end of last month). Let me start with Nikki and Scott Teller from Bewelded Engineering. This young couple run an engineering company in Gippsland and are always looking to reduce their carbon footprint. They are ‘committed to giving back to the environment and negate any damage they cause’. Wow, imagine if all companies had that sort of commitment to the planet. Nikki and Scott have generously funded 90 trees. Bea Quach wanted 108 trees planted on the behalf of her spiritual leader and these trees where planted at the Koala Reserve.  Thank you Bea, I’m sorry you couldn’t get out to Kinglake this year to help plant. Eleven of the 260 trees planted were for the host families of the Inagawa students from Japan.  This year’s delegation visit from Ballarat’s sister city was organised by Elizabeth Hardiman, (Ballarat’s Cultural Partnerships Officer) with the help of Shiree Pilkinton (Pilkinton Productions). Host families included: Wemyss-Romeril, Wright, Gunn, Falland, Tsilemanis-Potter, Jeffrey, Vallance, Eckles-Snelleksz, Janssen-Pemberton, Cook-Hutton and Jamali. From some of the photos I’ve seen, the students have had a fantastic stay in Ballarat. Safe travels home. We planted another 46 trees for the Sustainable Living Festival goers who wandered past my stall back in February and bought a tree from me. One of these festival goers, was Sabina Crawley. Since then, Sabina has been buying trees as gifts throughout the year. Four of the trees at the Koala Reserve are planted on the behalf of her friends Helen Grutzner and Kate Hughes (2 trees for each woman). And finally, one tree was planted for Emily Corbet. Emily wanted a tree planted in memory of her friend Jackie who passed away in the UK recently. [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Thank you to all for enabling rejuvenation to continue in this beautiful region of Victoria. Slainte – Colleen[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]