Many years later, this beautiful park is flourishing with native trees, shrubs and grasses. Native wildlife has returned and the whole ecosystem at West Gate Reserve is becoming self sustaining park. Many thanks Sonja for your continued support of our native environment. Slàinte – Colleen & the Fifteen Trees team <WestGateReserve/4,000trees/EverSolar700/EarthBottles90/SonjaMeyer60>Sonja’s trees were planted at the West Gate Reserve (Fishermans Bend, Melbourne at the city end of the Westgate Freeway) by RMIT staff and students. This reserve was founded by 19 year-old Naomie Sunner, a VCA photography student. Naomie discovered the Park in 1999 on a trek along the length of the Yarra River. She thought this neglected, abandoned park was nonetheless beautiful and had such potential! Her initial thought was to volunteer but there was no friends group. So, with a little help from mentors, she established and incorporated the Friends of Westgate Park and set to work.
Restoring Australian ecosystems. Supporting communities with their revegetation projects for a greener and healthier planet.
Fifteen Trees acknowledges Indigenous Australians as the traditional custodians of the lands on which we work, live and play.
We recognise that Indigenous Australians have cared for and lived in harmony with this land for millennia, and their knowledge and wisdom of the land endures.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and stand in solidarity as Indigenous Australians seek a fairer and more sustainable future for the land and its people.