700 trees to be planted on Wahroonga Estate in honour of the late Queen
20 October 2022: A commemorative tree planting ceremony was held today in the grounds of Sydney Adventist Hospital, on the Wahroonga Estate, in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Member for Bradfield, the Hon Paul Fletcher, The Hon Philip Ruddock AO, Mayor of Hornsby Shire Council and Mayor Jeff Pettett, Ku-ring-gai Council joined senior hospital staff and leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church — the custodians of the Wahroonga Estate — to pay tribute to the late Monarch by planting an advanced blackbutt tree.
The blackbutt is the first of 700 trees to be planted on the Wahroonga Estate through the Australian Government’s Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee Program. Ten trees will be planted for every year of the late Queen’s reign — all native varieties, including gum, wattle and red cedar. Commemorative signage will be installed to create awareness of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The large-scale tree planting project will be a special, living tribute to the late Queen, who was known for her commitment towards protecting the environment.
Overseeing the project is Seventh-day Adventist Church environmental officer Jayden Streatfeild, who says the trees will be planted within the Wahroonga Estate’s 31.4ha environmental conservation zone, known as the “Jewel of Lane Cove”.
“This is a significant wildlife corridor connecting Ku-ring-gai Council’s reserves through to Lane Cove National Park,” says Mr Streatfeild.
“It features two critically endangered ecological communities: a Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest and a Blue Gum High Forest. It is home to around 56 species of birds, and a variety of animal life including possums, bandicoots and echidnas. And recently, we’ve observed that wallabies have returned to the Wahroonga Estate after many years — and that’s an exciting discovery for the diversity of the environment.”
The site is not only a haven for wildlife, but it is also a popular community space. Bushwalkers, bird watchers and mountain bike riders are among those who enjoy its beauty and serenity.
Brett Goods, CEO Adventist Healthcare said, “The Hospital is proud to support the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the maintenance of this important wildlife corridor. The trees will be a welcome addition to our bushland surroundings. We are grateful to have this opportunity to commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II and her remarkable 70 years of service.”
This project received funding from the Australian Governments Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee Program.
About the Wahroonga Estate
The Wahroonga Estate, on Sydney’s North Shore, is a 64.2ha parcel of land acquired by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1898. The estate is home to Sydney Adventist Hospital, Adventist Aged Care Wahroonga, two Seventh-day Adventist churches, Wahroonga Adventist School, and the headquarters of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The estate is proudly maintained by staff from both Sydney Adventist Hospital and the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
