The Sisters of St Brigid are a group of Catholic sisters currently located in six countries world wide. Known for their commitment to social and ecological issues, they view community-building as a global, as well as a local concern. This commitment to community includes a strong sense of ecological responsibility.

‘We have a growing appreciation that everything is connected. Thus our focus and our concerns for eco-justice as well as for social justice remain at the heart of our Brigidine commitment.’  

Over the winter months, Rob East and his team from Mt Worth and District, planted out 2,500 native trees and shrubs, thanks to the generosity of the Sister’s of St Brigid. The trees were distributed across 3 sites at Mt Worth, Gippsland (Vic).  

Tetoora Road in the Strzelecki hills is where Cameron and Margaret McDonald run their farms. Originally know as the Heartbreak Hills, the Strzelecki’s still provide many challenges to its farmers as winters are cold, windy and wet and the hillsides are steep making access for vehicles often impossible. We planted … trees at this site. David and Kim Butcher are newcomers to the Mt Worth District having only purchased their 10 acre lifestyle property last year. Situated at Cloverlea about half way up the steep winding road to Mount Worth one of the major landmarks in the Strzelecki hills. It was here that we planted … trees. Paul and Merrin, are long term members of the local Mt Worth Landcare Group. They were seeking to provide a wildlife corridor between two gullies and the sponsorship from Fifteen Trees enabled them to do this earlier than expected. Now following just single planting day the 220 trees are in the ground and the gullies are connected which will enable the large populations of wombats, echidnas and wallabies to range throughout their area. Two important issues in this area are managing farm animals so that they are protected from the worst of the elements during the winter as well ensuring good land management to prevent erosion. Also important in this area is planting trees to prevent landslips and erosion caused by past clearing of the native vegetation and over grazing. The planting of trees to revegetate sensitive areas of our local farms plays an important part of managing both these issues. Revegetated areas assist in binding the soil together on our steepest slopes. Rob East | Secretary | Mt Worth and District Landcare  

The Sisters of St Brigid have recently committed to planting 2500 trees, in partnership with Fifteen Trees, as a way of reducing their flight-related carbon emissions. The modern reality of tackling global social justice issues is that one must occasionally get on a plane. But doing so needn’t be at the expense of the environment. While the Sisters are flying high fighting the good fight for oppressed peoples all round the world, their trees are already in the ground and helping a very different kind of community. Hundreds of trees have been planted in the Brigidine Sisters’ name around Mount Worth in Gippsland. Most recently, 220 trees were planted by volunteers from the Mt Worth & District Landcare Group on a property at Cloverlea owned by David and Kim Butcher. The aim of the planting was to link two gullies and provide, in time, a wildlife corridor for the native residents. These residents are as vulnerable in their own way as the humans the Sisters of St Brigid seek to protect. Wombats, echidnas and wallabies are wanderers. They need safe roads through their local environment in order to survive, particularly as the effects of climate change start to take hold. A thoughtful act of community by the Sisters means future generations of Mt Worth fauna will have a safer, happier future. ‘It is wonderful to see the small beginnings of a healthy bushland being restored.’ Sister Anne Boyd   Article by Sarah Hart.   Sarah is an artist whose passions include the stories and experiences of women and narrative driven creative work. Her aim is to delight, to reveal glimpses of everyday beauty, and to celebrate flights of the ordinary. Sarah works across a range of media, with an abiding interest in pen and ink, mixed media and the human form.