The Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes joined the ranks of iconic and distinguished Australians to plant a tree at the National Arboretum Canberra.
Jimmy Barnes is best known as the lead singer of the Australian rock band Cold Chisel – arguably Australia’s most acclaimed rock band of all time.
On Canberra Day last month (14 March), together with the Chief Minister Jon Stanhope MLA, Jimmy Barnes planted a Flame tree in the Central Valley of the National Arboretum.
Speaking at the event, Mr Stanhope said the tree planting represented the growing national importance of the Arboretum. "It is fitting that the very artist who immortalised the Flame tree through song, should plant that very tree in Canberra's Arboretum," Mr Stanhope said.
The Flame tree or Brachychiton acerifolius grows to 15 metres in height and is considered one of Australia's most spectacular flowering trees. With bright red bell-shaped flowers that often cover the entire tree before the foliage emerges in late spring and early summer, it is said that the flowering flame tree is a sight never to be forgotten - a vivid scarlet blur.
The species was made famous by Jimmy Barnes in Cold Chisel's 1984 hit song ‘Flame Trees' - a song not only written about the tree, but of lost loves or old flames.
Photographs of the Event
Jimmy Barnes arrives at the National Arboretum Canberra to plant the Flame Tree.
Left: Jeremy Lasek escorts Jimmy Barnes to the tree planting ceremony.
Left: Chief Minister Jon Stanhope MLA with Jimmy Barnes.
Jimmy Barnes planting the Flame Tree.
Left: Jimmy Barnes with Adam Burgess, Curator of the National Arboretum Canberra.
Left: Jimmy Barnes and Emma Halloway, Senior Horticulturalist at the National Arboretum.
Left: Lynette Marsh, Project Officer with Jimmy Barnes
Guests with Jimmy Barnes at the Tree Planting Ceremony.