On Monday, 16 April 2012, His Excellency General Michel Sleiman, President of the Republic of Lebanon and Her Excellency Mrs Wafaa Sleiman, First Lady, joined the Chief Minister Ms Katy Gallagher MLA in planting a Cedar of Lebanon in the Central Valley at the National Arboretum.
The Cedar of Lebanon is the national tree of Lebanon and is prominent as the centrepiece on the Lebanese national flag.
It is a subspecies native to Turkey and the Middle East and grows in the mountains of the Mediterranean region between 1,300 and 2.100 metres elevation.
The First Temple of Solomon was built from its timber. This species is often mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. It aided society not only culturally but was also the basis of numerous economies for ancient civilisations.
The President of the Republic of Lebanon visited Australia as a Guest of Government, primarily to strengthen ties between Australia and Lebanon.