Warm Trees celebrates cultures of First Nations people this NAIDOC week.
This year’s Warm Trees event at the National Arboretum Canberra will celebrate the cultures of the First Nations Australians, with the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags incorporated into knitted scarfs, exhibition and crafts on display.
Warm Trees, organised by the Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra and a large contingent of volunteers, brings the Arboretum’s forests to life each year with a spectacular display of colour during the popular scarf installation.
Jan Morgan, Warm Trees Convener, was excited to see it all come together.
“My grateful thanks to the Ngunnawal United Elders Council for agreeing to partner with us, along with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation. I am also so pleased to be working with wonderful, creative, talented and enthusiastic volunteers from across the ACT and Australia who have contributed their time and skills to knit and crochet scarves for this interesting project.
My heartfelt thanks to Jocelyn Plovits, the former Warm Trees convener, and to the United Ngunnawal Elders Council for suggesting we use the endangered Bogong moth for a display.”
Scott Saddler AM, Executive Branch Manager, National Arboretum Canberra and Stromlo Forest Park said, “As a proud Wiradjuri man, I am so pleased that at the National Arboretum Canberra we are able to celebrate our own First Nations’ cultures and showcase them to all visitors. The knitting used in this display is used twice. First for the display, then after it has been washed, scarves are turned into warm rugs and donated to charities.”
Special Minister of State Chris Steel launched the event today (6 July 2022), in partnership with the United Ngunnawal Elders Council and the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.
“It’s a great privilege to launch this year’s Warm Trees event on NAIDOC week and I encourage all Canberrans to take a walk through the beautiful display of culture, trees and art,” said Minister Steel."
As part of the Warm Trees art installation, the Indigenous Marathon Foundation unveiled a special exhibition on display in the Village Centre.
Robert de Castella AO MBE, Founder and Director of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation said, “The Indigenous Marathon Foundation is proud to partner with the Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra and acknowledge and celebrate our First Nations rich and vital contribution to the Australian identity though the 2022 Warm Trees and some of IMF’s activities.
“The colour, warmth and beautiful Indigenous themed knitted scarfs also make this this year’s NAIDOC theme of “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! particularly special, as we all need to do what we can,”
Visitors are encouraged to come along to the Arboretum to view the amazing Warm Trees and other exhibitions this NAIDOC week and throughout the month of July.
