In celebration of Hobart-born Mary Donaldson’s accession to Queen Mary of Denmark earlier this year, the City of Hobart and the City of Copenhagen each planted a tree in honour of this historic occasion on Tuesday, 3 December 2024.
A blue gum, which is Tasmania’s floral emblem, was planted at Long Beach in Sandy Bay, close to where Queen Mary attended school at Sandy Bay Infant and Waimea Heights Primary. Denmark’s Ambassador to Australia Ingrid Dahl-Madsen visited Hobart to attend the ceremony.
The blue gum will also grow to become another part of the City of Hobart’s Our City Canopy campaign, aiming to increase the city’s green spaces and help combat climate change.
And in Denmark, in front of the Queen and the Copenhagen Lord Mayor Lars Weiss, the City of Copenhagen planted an oak, Denmark’s national tree, in the city’s largest park Faelledparken.
“Our community takes great pride in Queen Mary’s Hobart heritage, and we are delighted to celebrate this with a gesture that honours our connection to her home today,” said Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds
“These trees, unique and special to both countries, symbolise the bond between Hobart and Copenhagen and our shared commitment to action on climate change.”
Denmark’s Ambassador to Australia Ingrid Dahl-Madsen spoke of celebrating not only Queen Mary’s journey, but also a partnership with Hobart that grows stronger with each passing year.
“Not only as an element of fighting climate change, but just as important for its symbol of the deep connection between Denmark and Tasmania, a bond rooted in shared values of sustainability, heritage, and respect for nature”, she said.
