Cheet-Zen Liang | Australia 

On August 4, 2024, families in Perth, Australia, gathered for the annual Tree Planting Day, an event organized by the local government in collaboration with various community groups, including Tzu Chi. Originally scheduled for July 28, the event was postponed due to rain, pushing the date to coincide with the first day of the Tzu Chi Parent-Child Classes. 

LEFT: One can never start too young, even infants can learn about the tree-planting effort. | Photo by Li-Hoon Lim | Perth, Australia | 2024/08/04 RIGHT: Volunteer Boris carefully plants trees. | Photo by Shih-Chen Law | Perth, Australia | 2024/08/04 

The monthly Tzu Chi Parent-Child Class offers an opportunity for parents and children to learn and grow together. Seizing this moment, the teachers encouraged families to join the tree planting event, giving them the chance to work together for a greater cause—greening the environment and planting seeds of hope for future generations. 

A Joyful Effort to Protect the Earth 

As the event began, an Aboriginal elder, Neville Collard, welcomed the participants and shared the rich cultural beliefs of the local Aboriginal community. He explained the significance of native plants in their traditions, particularly the use of leaves to produce smoke, which is believed to drive away evil spirits. According to Aboriginal beliefs, hardships like illness or accidents are sometimes attributed to malevolent forces, which can be expelled through a smoking ceremony. Neville performed the ritual to kick off the event, inviting everyone to walk through the smoke as a way to clear away negativity before starting their tree planting. 

Indigenous elder Neville Collard welcomed participants, introducing local Aboriginal culture and traditions, and invited everyone to walk through smoke from a fire to clear away negative energy. | Photo by Shih-Chen Law | Perth, Australia | 2024/08/04 

For the second year in a row, the tree planting event took place on the same hillside, though each year a new section is prepared for planting. Given the location near a busy highway, safety was a priority, and the city had set up fences around the area to prevent anyone from wandering off. Through the fencing, participants could see the trees planted the previous year, now standing tall at around two meters high. This year’s goal was to plant 3,750 seedlings. 

The city pre-measured and dug small holes in the ground. Participants simply needed to tap the plant containers, loosen the soil, and place the seedlings into the holes before covering them with soil. | Photo by Shih-Chen Law | Perth, Australia | 2024/08/04

The city made careful preparations in advance, digging small, neatly arranged holes in the ground and placing seedlings in them. Volunteers simply needed to tap the seedling containers to loosen the soil, gently remove the young trees, and place them into the holes. The final step was to cover them with soil, completing the process with ease. 

Creating Lasting Memories by Hand 

First-time participant Ken Guo, who recently moved to Perth, learned about the event through a friend. "Planting trees is meaningful. It gave me both physical exercise and mental fulfillment," he shared. | Photo by Shih-Chen Law | Perth, Australia | 2024/08/04

One of the participants, Ken Guo, had recently moved to Perth and heard about the event through a friend. A full-time master’s student who spends long hours in front of a computer, Ken was excited to get outside, stretch his muscles, and connect with nature. "Planting trees is meaningful," Ken shared. "Not only did I get some physical exercise, but I also felt mentally refreshed." 

Among the youngest participants was five-year-old Thomas Huang, a student of the Tzu Chi Parent-Child Class, who joined his mother for the day. Despite his young age, Thomas took the task of planting trees very seriously. Carefully placing the seedlings into the small holes, he made sure to steady the young trees with one hand, while reminding his mother, "You have to hold it, so it doesn’t tilt." 

Little volunteer Thomas Huang explains and demonstrates the tree-planting process to his mom, paying close attention to every step. | Photo by Shih-Chen Law | Perth, Australia | 2024/08/04

Throughout the event, Thomas diligently kept track of how many trees they planted. By the end of the day, he proudly informed his mother, "We planted twenty-three trees!" 

Community Support and Appreciation 

Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas (standing sixth from the left) took time to visit the site, thanking everyone for participating and encouraging them. | Photo by Shih-Chen Law | Perth, Australia | 2024/08/04 

Perth’s Mayor, Basil Zempilas, made a brief appearance to express his gratitude to the volunteers. His encouragement lifted spirits, and the atmosphere was filled with camaraderie as participants worked together to complete the task within two to three hours. By the end of the event, all the seedlings the city had provided were successfully planted. 

To show appreciation for the volunteers’ hard work, the organizers prepared a generous spread of refreshments, many of which were vegetarian. These snacks not only provided nourishment but also reinforced the community’s commitment to sustainability and mindful living. 

Volunteers admire the hillside, where trees planted last year are now lush and thriving. | Photo by Shih-Chen Law | Perth, Australia | 2024/08/04

Looking across the road, participants could see the trees that were planted by volunteers in previous years. Now fully grown and flourishing, these trees stand as a testament to the impact of their efforts. Nearby, the newly planted saplings stretched up toward the sky, a symbol of hope and resilience.