CLA’s National Liberty Tree will be a symbol for numerous generations to come, President Dr Kristine Klugman said as she joined the former ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and seven-year-old Charli Withers to plant the magnificent Kurrajong specimen at the National Arboretum in Canberra. The tree honours Mr Stanhope’s introducing the first human rights act in Australia on 1 July 2004 (the day Charli was born) and his lifelong commitment to liberties and freedoms; it now sits in pride of place, at the crown of the area for ceremonial plantings by kings and PMs, where it will in future form part of a citizen’s pilgrimage to his/her national capital from around the nation.
CLA’s National Liberty Tree planted
On World Human Rights day, the current Chief Minister of the ACT, Katy Gallagher, joined former Chief Minister and human rights champion Jon Stanhope to plant the National Liberty Tree’ at the National Arboretum in Canberra.
The planting of the tree in the Central Valley recognises the significant contribution that Mr Stanhope has made by delivering the first Human Rights Act in Australia.
Seven-year-old Charli Withers joined the Chief Minister and Mr Stanhope to take part in the ceremonial planting: she was born on 1 July 2004, the day that the Human Rights Act became law in the ACT. Also co-planting the tree was Dr Kristine Klugman, President of Civil Liberties Australia.
“It is fitting that Mr Stanhope’s contribution to human rights is appropriately recognised by planting this tree in the Arboretum’s Central Valley,” Ms Gallagher said. “Mr Stanhope’s commitment and passion to both human rights and the National Arboretum is well known to everyone in Canberra.
“So when Civil Liberties Australia suggested Mr Stanhope was the appropriate person to plant a ‘Liberty Tree’ with a child who has lived under the protection of the Human Rights Act for their whole life, I readily agreed.
“There is no doubt that Mr Stanhope has been one of the true champions of human rights in Australia both during his time in the Legislative Assembly and indeed even before that,” the Chief Minister said.
Civil Liberties Australia’s concept for the tree planting was to enable children and adults from throughout the nation to be able to identify Australia’s sense of freedom and a ‘fair go’ by association with this tree, planted in a prominent location as part of the National Arboretum Canberra.
The tree chosen is the Kurrajong (brachychiton populneus). It was selected as an Australian native with an important place in Canberra’s history – Capital Hill, where the Australian Parliament now stands – was previously known as Kurrajong Hill.
ENDS