Wattle (Arbor) Day
28 August 2023
Ethel Harris. Her first teaching appointment was at Mulligans Flat School.
A little over 100 years ago a young school teacher, Ethel Harris (later Cavanagh), decided to improve the surroundings of the school where she had taken up her first teaching appointment, having gained her teaching qualifications in Sydney in 1916. The school was Mulligans Flat School.
She organised to fence the school grounds and arranged a special planting of trees on Arbor Day 1920, not only to brighten up the area but to discourage wandering tramps and drovers who, she noted, used to camp in the school's weather shed at night.
A double row of young pine trees, fetched by trap from the new Yarralumla Nursery, was planted around the perimeter of the school by the students. The trees can still be seen today.
At the Centre we have decided to celebrate Wattle Day (September 1st) this year with a small 'pop up' display which identifies the significance of the wattle in our everyday lives.