Published on Friday, 12 April 2019 at 4:53:21 PM
Pine trees that will one day be home to the Leonard T. Green Memorial Park in Mahomets have an extremely rich history and a significant connection with World War I.
Currently being grown at the City of Greater Geraldton’s Community Nursery, the seedlings are directly connected to a tree once located at Lone Pine – a battle ground at Gallipoli.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the trees would be the perfect addition to the World War I Memorial.
“These trees have such a strong history being so deeply connected with World War I so it’s perfect that they will one day be located at the Memorial Park,” he said.
“Coming into winter there will be a lot of work done at site including improving the aesthetic of the Park with additional planting to garden beds and improvements to grassed areas in the open area above the wetland.
“Over the next two to three winters we’re hoping rainfall can help boost the greenery at the Park and get it ready for the pine trees to be planted.”
More than 70 Aleppo pine seedlings are currently being grown by volunteers at the Community Nursery with approximately half of these set to be planted at the Leonard T. Green Memorial Park in the coming years.
The history of the seedlings can be traced back to pine cones which were found by a digger at the Lone Pine battle site in 1915.
The soldier sent two pine cones to his Mother in Australia, to remember his brother who had died fighting in the War. From one of the cones, several seeds were propagated and successfully raised as seedlings.
The seedlings being grown at the Nursery came from a pine tree currently growing at Binnu Primary School.
They will be planted at the Memorial Park within the next five years.
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