Celebrating National Eucalypt Day

Published on 14 March 2017

Gum trees are a national icon and, on one particular day this month, they’ll be celebrated for their unique place in Australians’ hearts and minds.

National Eucalypt Day is planned for Thursday 23 March, with events around the country shining a spotlight on this much-loved family of trees.

Close to home, Inglewood’s Blue Eucy Museum is joining in the spirit of the event with a five-day program of craftwork, demonstrations and displays.

Museum ambassador Whitney Nankervis said activities would run from 23-27 March on-site.

“National Eucalypt Day falls under the banner of Eucalypt Australia, but we thought we would add something a little different,” Ms Nankervis said.

“Plans for the week include an exhibition of items from two groups – the Inglewood Woodcarvers and Inglewood Craft Group.

“On the Saturday and Sunday, members of those groups will be at the museum demonstrating what they do, while the oil distilling will be done three times each day.”

Eucalypt Australia is a grant-making charitable trust, based in Melbourne, focusing on eucalypts and their place in Australian life.

Other activities planned for National Eucalypt Day include field trips, photographic and cultural exhibitions, an awards ceremony, a family day at Merri Park, open day at Currency Creek (SA), a poetry reading and children’s nature day.

Chief executive officer Dr Bram Mason said this year would see the fourth such event.

“The first year was literally the launch of the Dahl boardwalk at Lake Mountain and the second saw a presentation at Cranbourne’s Australian Garden,” Dr Mason said.

“The third year we thought we’d look to promote the various programs we support through our grants program and came up with seven or eight different events.

“This time, we have nearly 25 events, celebrating the dramatic growth we’ve seen in our grants program since our official launch as Eucalypt Australia last October.”

The organisation behind Eucalypt Australia is the Bjarne K. Dahl Trust, opened for business in Melbourne in 2009 to promote the awareness, knowledge and appreciation of Australia’s eucalypt trees.

Bjarne Klaus Dahl (1898-1993) was a Norwegian who migrated to Australia at the age of 30 to work for the Forests Commission of Victoria.

Dahl developed a deep affinity with the Australian bush and left his entire estate to the Forests Commission, to be used for the conservation of eucalyptus trees and education of the public.

The Trust has already given out over $1 million in grants to about 80 projects across the country.

National Eucalypt Day is held on 23 March each year – the birthday of Bjarne Dahl.

Entry to the museum for the five-day program will be $5, with opening hours 10am to 4pm.

For more details, phone 0457 633 472, the Loddon Visitor Information Centre on (03) 5494 3489 or visit www.eucalyptaustralia.org.au/national-eucalypt-day-2017