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Home > Be a Community Builder > Volunteering >

Day of action - Lithgow Olympic Gold Landcare Project

In September last year a massive tree planting project on the shores of Lake Lyell, attracted close to 1,500 volunteers who planted 17,000 trees as a part of Landcare activity 'Day of Action'.

A special 'green train' arrived at Lithgow station with about 700 volunteers from Sydney through to the Blue Mountains. People from all walks of life, age groups and ethnic origin, people in wheelchairs and tourists from Japan joined in for a day of Landcare and friendship. Aboriginal representatives were aboard the train from Sydney to tell all volunteers about their Sacred Sites at Lake Lyell.

The Opening Ceremony commenced with didgeridoo playing and special Aboriginal song and dances.

Highlights of the day included:

  • Planting an avenue of honour dedicated to local firefighters, volunteers and Lithgow miners who lost their lives in and around the Lithgow area
  • Trees planted in honor of local Olympians who attended
  • An aboriginal 'Smoking Ceremony' and story telling

Following the hard work, all volunteers were treated to a barbeque lunch provided by Lithgow Rotary Club. By mid afternoon locals and visitors alike - Olympians and Commonwealth Games representatives, SOCOG and Landcare Officials, sponsoring corporations - were able to relax and dance on the grass to the great outdoor concert provided by leading Australian band 'Mental as Anything'. Entertainment was also provided by Aboriginal singers and dancers.

Brian Scarsbrick, Chief Executive Officer of Landcare Australia Limited, told the gathering they had made history by helping to rehabilitate degraded countryside in this otherwise picturesque location. He said 20 million trees had been destroyed around Australia since the First Fleet arrived and Arthur Philip cut down five trees to help raise the British flag.

The 'Day of Action' was a tremendous effort by all involved, in tree planting, promotion of Lithgow, awareness of Landcare and a day of friendship and fun.

[Other parts of the project held prior to the Day of Action were a seed collecting workshop, a schools day of action and tree and shrub planting by Greencorp. Total planting tally - 35,000 plants]


Two million trees by the 2000 Olympics

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