CELEBRATING Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, the Coffs Harbour Garden Club (CHGC) has planted a tree celebrating the 70-year reign, which the members have dubbed a ‘Treebilee’.

The auspicious planting took place at the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden in Coffs Harbour on Sunday, 6 November.

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The species chosen is a Briar Silky Oak (Musgravea Heterophylla), an ornamental bushy tree, which grows to fifteen metres high and was supplied by City of Coffs Harbour.

With striking foliage and showy cream scented flowers, being a rainforest species the tree was planted in the Proteaceae Rainforest area beside the main walkway.

Richard (Rick) Ackland, the Botanic Gardens’ Maintenance Coordinator, supervised and was involved in the planting.

“The reason the tree was chosen for this tribute by the garden club is that in a recent storm a large tree fell and damaged the area, so it was decided to regenerate the area.”

“We decided to honour Queen Elizabeth II’s remarkable 70 years of unbroken service as Monarch with a tree planting,” Noeline Sell from CHGC told News Of The Area.

“His Royal Highness Prince Charles The Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) launched the ‘Plant a Tree’ for the Queen’s Jubilee.

“It was hoped that worldwide participation by groups and individuals would celebrate by planting shrubs and trees in honour of the Queen’s lifetime of service.

“This was a club decision to participate, no money was raised for this project as the council supplied the tree/s to regenerate the area damaged by the storm.”

The plaque to mark the Treebilee will be a joint club/council/Botanical Gardens plaque and will be arranged with wording through Rick.

Other trees planted on the day were one Ivory Curl Tree (Buckinghamia Celsissima), two Northern silky oaks (Cardwellia Sublimis) and three Dorrigo Waratahs (Alloxylon Pinnatum).

A commemorative tree, a Stenocarpus Kingii, was planted by Larry (Happy) Corbett, volunteer at the Gardens, who moved from North Queensland and brought the tree with him in his campervan.

Each night/morning he moved the tree out/in to make room for him to sleep during his journey.

Larry dug all the holes for the plantings and helped on the day.

On Sunday visitors to the Gardens stopped to talk to members and said they “looked forward to seeing the tree grow and flower”.

“They thought it a wonderful way to pay tribute to her majesty,” said Noeline.

“The club planned to be involved in the tree planting initiative as it was felt that it is a wonderful way to celebrate her reign.

“Sadly her majesty has now passed away, so the tree is also a tribute to her long life,” said Noeline.

Anyone wishing to enquire about joining the club can visit www.coffsgardenclub.com.au.

By Andrea FERRARI