It would be harder to find a more unselfish 18th birthday celebration than the one hosted by Tala Clarete.
Along with her friends and members of her community, she held a tree planting day at WynTree’s Point Cook nursery on Friday, July 18.
The year 12 student arrived in Wyndham in 2023 from the island of Luzon in the Philippines – a place where trees dominate the skyline.
“I guess my passion for climate change was sparked when I realised certain parts of the world don’t have the chance to live in such a green environment,” Ms Clarete said.
“I think with a lot of people aren’t really informed about the low percentage of tree canopy coverage in the western suburbs.”
Spending time at the nursery with her parents and replotting plants were some of her fondest times when she first arrived in Australia.
Now she wants other young people to experience the serenity of nature saying “I do get a lot of satisfaction because there is a certain kind of feeling to be the person to deliver that message and then see the people you tell make something of it.”
Ms Clarete said she was inspired by the analogy of planting bamboo shoots and the patience it takes to see them mature.
“I think there is something very poetic about plants and trees, even if there is no change on the surface, there is a world of change underneath.
“You may not see change happen when you input time, but the change is rewarding once it comes.”
