Page 431 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 13 February 2013
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visitors. The Japanese art of bonsai has spread all around the world and is now a familiar sight in many countries, including Australia. The influence of the lesser known Chinese art of penjing is also on show in many of the trees on show at that collection. Visitors to the arboretum can see some of the finest miniature trees produced by Australian artists. I had the opportunity to visit the bonsai display, noting that some of the trees there were over 100 years old. The trees are in a wide variety of styles, representing the individual artistic flair of their creators. Unlike most works of art, some of these have been passed on from artist to artist, and even from generation to generation.
There have been quite a few ceremonial plantings, and those plantings will continue. Forests are being allocated to ambassadors and foundations; the central valley spine is allocated to presidents, prime ministers and heads of state; and the central valley terrace is allocated to Australian icons in the field of sport, music, architecture, literature and so forth.
Some of the people who have already planted should be named. Her Excellency Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, planted on 28 May 2012. That was with our current Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher. They planted the red toon in the central valley of the National Arboretum. The Prime Minister’s visit from Thailand coincided with the 60th anniversary of the bilateral relationship between our two countries. Another planting was by Gordon Darcy Lilo, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, on Tuesday, 21 August 2012—again with our Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher.
When the bushfires affected the arboretum area, Stromlo forest, back in 2001 and 2003, it would have been hard to imagine that within 10 years the 250-hectare site would be transformed in the way it has been. I have got very fond memories of that site from my early rally years and early years with my children, barbecuing and picnicking in Stromlo forest.
With our changing seasons and the continuing evolution of the forest, people will get a new experience each time they visit the arboretum site. The arboretum will serve as an important cultural and horticultural landscape in Canberra. As we have heard, the concept of developing 100 forests over the 250 hectares is unique and will provide scientific, educational and recreational opportunities for Canberrans and visitors to our city for generations to come.
The site will quickly become Canberra’s premier open space venue and attract visitors both nationally and internationally. Already we have seen several well-attended Voices in the Forest concerts. I had the pleasure of attending the last Voices in the Forest concert, sponsored by Village Building Co. That attracted a world-famous opera singer, Sumi Jo.
The amphitheatre where the Voices in the Forest concert was held will undoubtedly become a much-loved concert venue in Canberra due to the rock mountain formations which allow the sound to be naturally amplified. It makes it ideal for musical and theatre performances.
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