Students dig deep to help residents

Students at St Columban’s College have helped replace a treasured part of the Bolton Clarke Fernhill aged care community in Caboolture – a mango tree.

The new tree has been planted by students in the front entrance garden of Fernhill’s new residential aged care community building to mark National Tree Day.

“We were there when the original tree was pulled out, so it’s nice to be here planting a new one,” says Fernhill resident Don Bryant. “It’s been great to watch the building come together – it’s very impressive.”

Marlene Rae, also a Fernhill resident, says: “We were sad to see the first tree removed, but there’s something special about planting a new one when we are about to move into our new home”.

Don and Marlene were joined by St Columban’s College students Georgia Sturgess and Bailey Atkins for the planting.

Bailey said it was “really cool to plant the same tree as the one that was taken out,” while Georgia “couldn’t believe how many people worked on this building”.

A tale of two trees

Fernhill Residential Manager Ram Korla says the original mango tree was relinquished during demolition work to make way for the new community building.

“When the question of ‘what tree’ came up – it seemed very fitting to plant a mango tree to replace the one that was removed,” he says. “When we shared the idea with our residents, they were unanimously on board.

“We then spent a couple of days tracking down just the right mango tree – and settled on a dwarf variety which will be large, but not quite as large as the previous tree, making it a bit easier for residents to pick the fruit.”

What’s next?

The final fit out and landscaping works are being completed on the new Fernhill residential aged care community which is due to open for new resident admissions in October.

Meanwhile, a jacaranda tree at Fernhill featured in a colouring-in competition for primary schools in celebration of National Tree Day (August 2).

The Fernhill Jacaranda colouring in competition will be judged by the aged care residents and team members in September.

The winner will have their artwork framed and hung in Fernhill’s Jacaranda Café, when the building opens in October. Entries close on August 31. The Jacaranda Colouring in page can be downloaded from futurefernhill.com.au.

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