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Roots planted in Shepparton spread around Australia

June 3, 2026

027A0018_08836 — ONE TREE PER CHILD... When Olivia Newton-John and Jon Dee founded One Tree Per Child, they planted a seed in Shepparton 10 years ago, which has helped the concept spread around the country. Pictured are Oliva from St Mel's Kindergarten, RiverConnect's Alison White and Jon Dee planting in the garden next to SAM. Photo: Aaron Cordy

Council celebrated 10 years of One Tree Per Child

By Aaron Cordy

GREATER Shepparton City Council celebrated 10 years of the One Tree Per Child program on Tuesday, May 26, marking a decade of community planting, environmental education and local action across the region.

Founded by Olivia Newton-John and Jon Dee, One Tree Per Child was created with the simple goal of encouraging every child to plant at least one tree before leaving school.

“When Olivia and I started that, we planted the first tree in Hyde Park in London. We’ve now planted trees in 10 countries, but the one community that’s done one Tree Per Child better than anybody is here in Shepparton,” said Jon.

ONE TREE PER CHILD… When Olivia Newton-John and Jon Dee founded One Tree Per Child, they planted a seed in Shepparton 10 years ago, which has helped the concept spread around the country. Pictured are Oliva from St Mel’s Kindergarten, RiverConnect’s Alison White and Jon Dee planting in the garden next to SAM. Photo: Aaron Cordy

“This kind of thing only happens when you get the council on board, you get community groups on board, you get all the schools on board, and one of the community groups who really helped enormously over the years with Tree Day and with One Tree Per Child is Lions Clubs.

“I mentioned the fact that Lions were helping out in Shepparton to the guy who’s in charge of Lions Clubs in Australia, and he loved that idea, and he wanted to know more about it. Then he introduced me to the global vice president of Lions, who happens to be Australian, and so I gave a speech on Saturday in Adelaide to the Lions National Convention. They’re now going to take One Tree per Child, not just from here; they’re going to take it all around the country.”

TEN-YEAR CELEBRATION… Greater City Council celebrated 10 years of the One Tree Per Child program. Pictured are Mayor Cr Shane Sali and One Tree Per Child co-founder Jon Dee with the children of St Mel’s Kindergarten. Photo: Aaron Cordy

Since becoming the first Council in Australia to adopt the initiative in 2016, Greater Shepparton has planted almost 200,000 Indigenous trees, shrubs, grasses and groundcovers through the program. The program has engaged with 57 schools, 19 kindergartens and childcare centres, 30 community groups and five disability services across Greater Shepparton.

The 10-year milestone will be recognised during Greater Shepparton’s annual community planting event on Sunday, July 26, at Tassiker Reserve, Shepparton, from 10am to 1pm, as part of National Tree Day activities. Community members can learn more or register their interest at www.shepp.city/treeday.