The school’s tree planting story began in the early to mid-1990s under the guidance of Head Teacher of PE, John Brown. Initially, the idea was simple: John wanted to encourage students to do something for the environment on World Environment Day each year. By 1995 and 1996, Year 7 students were already heading out into the community to plant trees and support local environmental initiatives.

National Tree Day has become part of life at Kiama High, with students participating in the event for almost the entire history of the campaign. Image: Paul Berry/Kiama High School

HSIE teacher Paul Berry joined the school in 1996 and soon became a driving force behind the program. Since then, the school has run an event on National Tree Day every year, besides a brief pause during the COVID period.

“In 1997, I took over the co-ordination of the day, gradually streamlining it into what it is today,” he said.

“I dispensed with the prizes because most of them were cheap plastic toys or other props that would quickly become landfill.”

Over time, the event has grown into a major community partnership involving Kiama Municipal Council, local Landcare groups and volunteers. Berry said the day has “always been a community focused event” and has developed strong partnerships “under the auspices of Landcare Illawarra”.

Students from Kiama High putting in some hard yakka to get trees in the ground. Image: Paul Berry/Kiama High School

Each year, Year 7 students are allocated planting sites across the region, with Kiama Council and the school working together to coordinate locations and activities. After a day of planting, students gather at Kendalls Beach for a sausage sizzle supplied by Kiama Council and the Kiama Lions Club.

The program has helped transform a number of local sites over the years. Berry highlighted the work of the Bombo Headland Landcare Group, which has turned an area known as ‘The Boneyard’ from a weed-infested headland into a sanctuary full of biodiversity and endemic species. Other long-term partners include groups working at Seven Mile Beach, Minnamurra Rainforest and Shoalhaven Heads.

Kiama High Students at a National Tree Day planting event. Image: Paul Berry/Kiama High School

Another success story has been Spring Creek, which Berry said “now is a living forest, playing host to birds such as the Green Catbird and a range of waterbirds”.

Most recently, students have been helping revegetate the slopes of Curry’s Mountain, continuing a proud tradition of environmental stewardship as part of National Tree Day that has shaped both the local landscape and generations of Kiama High students.