Thompson Family Funerals has been helping the district say goodbye to its people since 1918, just after the First World War. A business just doesn’t last that long without a strong connection to the needs and values of the community. It will come as no surprise to learn that Thompson Family Funerals also gives back to the needs of the planet.

Since 2012, Peter Thompson and his team have been supporting our community tree planting projects. To date, we have planted 1,260 trees on the behalf of Peter and his team.

The site of this year’s planting was on the Island in Mollison Creek at Pyalong (traditional land of the Taungurung and Wurundjeri Aboriginal people) by the Nulla Vale Landcare Group. Species consisted of a mixture of Red Gum, Swamp Gum, Grey Box, Manna Gum, Yellow Box and Black Wood.

The Landcare group has engaged in a program of regenerating the area on the island in Mollison Creek, Pyalong. The island had become overgrown with blackberries, gorse and thistles to the extent that it was inaccessible. Having removed the weeds, including blackberries up to two metres high, the Landcare group have embarked on a native revegetation program in order to restore the island to it’s native condition. Ongoing weeding will be undertaken until the native vegetation has reached a mature state that will naturally reduce and control the weed invasion.

We would like to thank Fifteen Trees and their supporters for contributing to our effort to begin the process of healing this spectacular piece of land. The trees provided will help to protect the few old trees that remain. These trees are better preserved if they have an ecology of smaller supportive trees and bushes around them, along with some young replacement trees that will one day grow to a similar scale. A rich and diverse ecology around these old trees, helps bring back the wildlife and the insects that provide a far more protective environment.

We thank you for your interest and generosity.

James Legge | President | NV&PWLC

The creek and island is inhabited by a range of water birds including Ducks, Blue Cranes and water fowl. Many species of birds in Central Victoria inhabit the area such as Cockatoos, Crimson Rosellas, Corellas and Wrens.

We think this has a beautiful synergy with Thompson Family Funerals’ core work. Saying goodbye to our loved ones can be so hard. How heartening to think that part of them lives on in the goodwill of the region they called home. Somewhere, not too far away, a living plant finds its feet and settles in for generations worth of service to its community. Just like Thompson Family Funerals itself.

If you would like to know more about sponsoring community tree planting projects and how we can assist you in becoming a more sustainable business, please contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer: Colleen B. Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start the company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.