Sloping banks make it difficult to access the Richmond River at Casino. The sound of the river water echoes up the slopes to a winding path where Casino High School students are planting 800 native trees behind Queen Elizabeth Park.

Teacher Rod McFarlane said they wanted to revitalise the whole area to make it accessible for elders.

The trees are funded by the North Coast Primary Health Network as part of its Healthy Towns projects.

Ben West was involved in Healthy Towns where he met family caseworker Kerry-Anne Maunder and they linked up with Mark Dunphy from Firewheel Rainforest Nursery for the tree planting project.

Ben has ambitious plans for the walking paths around the Richmond River.

“My idea is to have track signs with local indigenous signage,” he said.

Ben wants to see evening walks along the river using night vision goggles to spot wildlife.

Mark supplied native trees that can be used for medicine, food and weaving.

“My whole life is about getting the right tree at the right place,” he said.

While Firewheel has propagated and planted a “million trees”, this was one of the first times Aboriginal culture was involved in the regeneration, he said.

Kerry-Anne said the planting was about connecting with country.

“We are allowing kids to learn more about traditional knowledge in medicinal and edible plants,” she said.

As Aunty Theresa Bolt and Aunty Janette Duncan sat in a clearing weaving the strappy leaves of lomandra, the students planted new saplings along the riverbanks for future weaving.

This article appeared in the Richmond River Independent, 26 May 2021.