Minister Barr: Governor-General of New Zealand commemorates Gallipoli campaign at the National Arboretum
- Written by ACT Government
Released 28/05/2015
I was delighted to join with Their Excellencies the Governor-General of New Zealand and Lady Janine as they planted a Gallipoli oak in the Central Valley of the National Arboretum.
The oak (Quercus coccifera var. Calliprinos) has a beautiful story which originates on the ridges and valleys of the Gallipoli peninsula near Lone Pine where 50,000 Australian soldiers fought.
Several soldiers collected the acorns of the small prickly trees and brought them back to Australia. One of those soldiers was Captain William Lampriere Winter-Cooke. This particular tree is the progeny of one of those original acorns which Winter-Cooke planted on his property in rural Victoria.
This is another significant species to continue the plantings in the Central Valley, each tree telling a unique story of the country it represents or, in this case, the strong bond between two nations.
The National Arboretum is a fitting home for this tree and it adds to the growing numbers of Gallipoli oak being planted both in Canberra and across the country.
I was also able to showcase our beautiful city to Their Excellencies from the top of Dairy Farmers Hill where they could also view two other prominent plantings commemorating our role in the Gallipoli campaign including the Turkish and Aleppo pines which are already growing in forests in the National Arboretum.
The Gallipoli oak will grow to about 5 metres tall and will forever remind visitors to the Arboretum of the ultimate sacrifice made by 8,141 Australian soldiers and 2,779 New Zealand at Gallipoli.
Their Excellencies are visiting Canberra as part of a broader national tour.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
