Hundreds of local students gathered in Mount Gambier last week to celebrate National Forestry Day.
The event, at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre, featured a concert with George the Farmer in front of 600 students who enjoyed a blend of music, storytelling and education, designed to highlight the importance of forestry and its role in carbon storage and sustainability.
Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub’s Josh Praolini said the concert coincided with Book Week, which he said was important as “without forestry, we would not have the paper to read the books”.
Mr Praolini said students enjoyed a live reading of the picture book “George the Farmer and the Great Forest Hunt”, which aligned perfectly with the Book Week and further reinforced the significance of forests in our everyday lives.
“The students were also captivated by George the Farmer’s performances, including his popular song ‘Wood is Good’, which emphasises the benefits of using wood as a renewable resource,” he said.
“The event celebrated the theme of carbon storage in timber products, a critical aspect of forestry that contributes to combating climate change. The students learned how timber products act as carbon sinks, storing carbon dioxide that trees absorb from the atmosphere. This educational focus highlighted the crucial role of forestry in environmental stewardship and the fight against global warming.”
Mr Praolini said the day was made possible through the generous support Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub members, with additional in-kind support from OneFortyOne, Gildera Nursery, Timberlink, Timberlands, and ABP.
Mr Praolini said a special moment during the event was the appearance of Neil Turner, a seasoned forester who shared his experiences and insights with the young audience.
“Neil spoke passionately about what it takes to be a forester, emphasising the importance of forestry for the use in things like houses, furniture, clothing, paper, amongst many others,” he said.
“He also discussed the significance of carbon storage in timber products, reinforcing the day’s theme and inspiring students to think about forestry as a future career. Neil Turner then joined George the Farmer on stage for a rousing performance of ‘Wood is Good’, delighting the audience.
“As National Forestry Day and Book Week coincided, the students left the Wulanda Recreation Centre not only with fond memories but also with a greater awareness of the vital role that forests and timber products play in our world.
“The George the Farmer concert was a fitting celebration of these themes, combining entertainment with education in a way that will resonate with the students for years to come.”
