My Tree Project

Awards:
Community Event of the Year 2023 (Charles Sturt Council)
South Australia’s Community Event of the Year 2023

What would happen in an age of rapid change to our world and society if every young person worked with their community to research, plan, propagate and plant relevant endemic species in their area? And if those young people used artistic expression to share what this experience means to them … what then?

The My Tree Project (MTP) aims to address these questions, empowering children to play an active role in dealing with the challenges of climate change by adding to tree canopy and understory in the western suburbs to create a cooler and healthier environment into the future.

The project started in 2021-22. In 2023-24, MTP continued to explore what was possible. Project sponsors for this round were Charles Sturt Council, Rail Care SA and the Australian Association for Environmental Education. WACRA is the administering body. MTP is now in its 3rd iteration (2025-26), with support from the same sponsors.

Schools involved in this project include West Beach Primary School, Kilkenny Primary School, Hendon Primary School and Pennington Primary School. Woodville and Seaton High Schools have also participated. Participating schools in the current round (2025-26) are Pennington Primary School and Woodville High School.

Participating students propagate seeds, thin and transplant the seedlings, and as a final outcome plant a tree/understory at their school, home or in the community. They also create an artwork about what a tree means to them. During the project stages, students gain a greater understanding of biodiversity, indigenous plants and sustainability, and learn how to connect with nature and be waterwise.

Artworks

Art exhibition: Fri 25 July – Sun 31 August, Ngutungka Henley (PDF)

The artworks (eg paintings, stobie poles, sculptures, writing) use a range of media such as natural fibres and paint. Selected artworks are exhibited in a Charles Sturt Council space (usually a library) during the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) festival in August each year. Scroll down to view a slideshow of student works.

The team

Julie Whitehead: project coordinator
Andrea Rankin: promotional materials, admin
Lara Lamnek, Marg Easson, Gianna Miller, other local artists: art workshops
Steve Fuller, Deidre Knight: plant selection and planting workshops

Thank yous

Charles Sturt Council staff; Rail Care SA; the Australian Association for Environmental Education; the Lamnek family; Lisa Savchuk (artist); participating artists and volunteers; principals, deputy principals and staff of the schools involved; Croydon Officeworks; Bunnings; World’s Best Graffiti Removers.