Columban Lay Missionary Sai ( 3rd from right) with new friends from TreeProject after hours of planting native trees in the Yarra Valley (PC: Columban Mission)
In efforts to put faith to action through the Columban mission priority of “Biodiversity Protection and Restoration,” Tree planting is a new activity being integrated at the Columban Mission Centre in Melbourne. This was initiated by Columban Fr Kelvin Barratt, who first came up with the idea of contributing funds towards tree planting as a demonstration of Columban solidarity in caring for our common home.
Following further discussions with Columban lay workers, it was decided that the team would begin volunteering with a local organization known as the “TreeProject.” Located in Kensington, a few suburbs down the road, the TreeProject helps restore native habitats and ecosystems by improving biodiversity and soil stability through the growing and planting of tree seedlings which are native to Australia.
The first to attend the TreeProject was Columban Lay Missionary Sai who planted tree seedlings in the Yarra Valley while making new friends and exploring regional Victoria over two tree planting days.
On Friday 14th August, Columban co-worker Mariana Waqa volunteered at the weekly Grower’s Group in Kensington where she met with Ms. Wiebke Wilkens who is the Re-vegetation Coordinator for TreeProject.
Ms. Wilkens gave Mariana a tour around the hub and explained the option of volunteers taking home Growing Kits where they care for seedlings over six months before returning them to the hub for planting in regional Victoria. This was exciting news to Mariana who saw the possibility of a small project set up in the Columban gardens so retired priests can participate by watering and caring for native seedlings.
Mariana got straight to work by planting Musk-Daisy (Olearia argophylla) seedlings, mixing soil, checking seeded pots, and pruning roots. After planting, the small group cleaned up their workspace and said their goodbyes.
Finally, on Friday 28th of August, Columban Fr. Kelvin Barratt was accompanied by Mariana to attend his first grower’s session in Kensington. It was a morning filled with learning as Fr. Kelvin helped re-pot the young and still fragile seedlings. Working together as a team, Fr. Kelvin and Mariana enjoyed the outdoor settings and discovered a new sense of appreciation for how much care goes into nurturing seedlings so that they will grow into large trees and shrubbery that helps hold soil together and provides homes and hiding places for birds, small mammals, and insects.
Discussions are now underway about the possibility of growing seedlings at the Columban estate for six months before they are taken to the Yarra Valley and planted on native lands, in this way, the Columban Fathers can contribute locally to the TreeProject’s aim of planting 165,000 trees and shrubs by 2027, while remaining committed to their Columban mission priority of Biodiversity Protection and Restoration.
Mariana Waqa is the Regional Schools & Community Partnerships Coordinator.
