A number of Gold Coast SUNS AFLW stars have joined forces with kids at the Kool Beanz SUNS as part of the childcare centre’s National Tree Day activities. 

Started in 1996 and now having grown into Australia’s largest community tree planting and nature care event, National Tree Day will take place this Sunday and encourages Australians to roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty and give back to the community.

SUNS AFLW vice-captain Jac Dupuy, who was joined by Lauren Ahrens, Tara Bohanna and Bess Keaney says the opportunity to get the next generation involved in caring for the environment was an important cause for her and her teammates.

“We planted a dwarf mandarin tree which will be great to feed the kids in years to come and then we got some veggies in the veggie patch too,” Dupuy said.

“Conservation is a hot topic at the moment and getting kids involved at a really young age is a critical message for us.

“It’s really important among the Gold Coast community. We have some of the most beautiful backdrops in the world that we want to protect – our beaches and Gondwana rainforests at our back doorstep to name a few.

“I think it’s really integral that we play that role in trying to protect the landscape we have around us.”

Kool Beanz SUNS Centre Director Tahlia Wood was thrilled to have the SUNS involved in the centre’s National Tree Day activities, which will provide an educational tool for the kids in the years to come as the plants blossom.

“We’ve been really lucky to have the SUNS players come visit the kids and participate in our National Tree Day celebration,” Wood said.

“National Tree Day for us is a great way to educate children about the environment, how to protect it, keep it safe and to practice some of sustainability practices.

“The added bonus of having the SUNS involved allowed us to interact with the community as well and once all the fruit grows we’ll be able to harvest and send it home with families.”

National Tree Day in this Sunday, July 30 with 26 million trees planted since its inception in 1996.