By Corey Everitt
Sixth graders at primary schools across the Hills were given a special graduation present as Monbulk MP Daniella De Martino and not-for-profit Treasuring Our Trees (TOT) presented them with specially made pens to see them into secondary school.
Ms De Martino was joined by David Ferrier from TOT as well as representative from Melbourne Water to pay a visit to Mount Dandenong Primary, Olinda Primary School, Sassafras Primary School and Emerald Primary School on Friday 8 December.
It was to gift grade six students, only weeks from graduating, with pens specially made by TOT for them to hold on as they make the transition into secondary next year.
These are no ordinary pens, each student was called up to receive pens made from timber of fallen native trees only a stone throw from Emerald.
Starting after the 2021 storm which devastated the Dandenong Ranges, TOT repurposes felled trees. Instead of being wasted they are made into intricately crafted and decorated items which are donated to the community, from chairs, tables to cabinets.
These pens were made from trees at Silvan Reservoir Park which were brought down by the 2021 storm and were given to TOT by Melbourne Water.
This isn’t the first time TOT has donated to Emerald Primary, early this year the school received a cabinet and tables used in their classrooms, while outside was installed a yarning circle and planting boxes fitted with mango and tangerine trees. All of these made and crafted from the Mountain Ash, Red Gum and many other native trees TOT has been given.
Emerald is one of four schools that received graduation pens on the day, the others being Olinda Primary, Mt Dandenong Primary and Sassafras Primary.
All have recieved a range of items from TOT, a strong relationship continues to grow.
“We have had amazing friendships, with the school community, teachers, principals and the families,” Mr Ferrier said
“We see this as really the start of an organic relationship that will grow in the years to come.”
Still only knew they see promise in expanding and showing others their unique work for the community.
“We’ve really built a platform to show what we can do, and we have big dreams to show what we across the country,” Mr Ferrier said.
“After two and half years since the storm, we have amazing projects to show, but we are only just getting started.”
A big part of TOT has been in collaboration with the State Government where they have received trees from the Level Crossing Removal Project, from sites like the Cranbourne Line upgrade. They are currently in the process of receiving trees felled from the construction of a road bridge at Beaconsfield Station.
Ms De Martino has been a vocal supporter of David Ferrier and TOT’s work, she was there to help give out the pens for each student and have a chat about the big move next year.
Moving on to high school can be daunting for some as they split up to a range of schools and are no longer the senior kids on the block. However it goes, they will all have a piece of a native tree to keep them comfort and help them write up their homework.
