Friendship Trees in
New Zealand and Australia
Friendship Trees in Great Britain
Friendship Trees in Australia and New Zealand
Friendship Trees in New Zealand
Friendship Trees in South America
A statement of the international culture of Rotary,
by Paul Harris
Paul & Jean Harris’ first stop on their 1935 tour of Australia was in Brisbane where he wrote in his journal: “The civic reception ceremony was repeated in practically every city we visited in Australia and New Zealand.
Though I was at times somewhat weary, I appreciated them more that I can express in words. As a mean of getting in touch with “men” of importance in business and civic affairs who are not Rotarians, the institution designated civic reception seems to me supreme. As an opportunity to deliver messages of international good will where they bid fair to register, it seems to be that civic receptions stand next to the press and the wireless broadcasts, and of course the press are always represented at the receptions. I think I can also say that the mayors themselves attached considerable importance to them.”*
The first “Friendship Tree” was planted in Paul Harris’ own garden, in honor of Melbourne’s second club secretary, close friend and early leader of Rotary in Australia, Walter Drummond
Read about Parramatta where Paul Harris makes a profound statement about “international” character.
Missing Histories: Australia; Brisbane, (planting); Christchurch, Dunedin & Wellington, New Zealand. History of New Zealand Trees
Paul Harris’ First Vist to Austalia in 1935
On his visit to Brisbane in 1935, Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, planted an American pine tree in the grounds of the Montrose Home for Crippled Children at Taringa. The home moved to Corinda in March 1938; and the Rotary Club of Brisbane West used the trunk of this tree for the making of Rotary ornaments (1970-71), and they placed the bole of the tree with a suitable message in the entrance of the new Montrose Home.
Arnold Bennett’s book “Rotary in Queensland” (1980) on page 129
The Brisbane “Friendship Tree” is remembered
The living tree does not exist today. The original site of the Montrose Home where it was planted in 1935 is now the Kingsholme Apartments (180-190 Swann Road, Taringa), prestige blocks of units with great city views. Part of the tree trunk, fossilised and with an identifying plaque, remains on display …
Montrose Queensland Society for Crippled Children
….within the entrance area of the Montrose Queensland Society for Crippled Children administration building, Consort Street, Corinda. It may be viewed Monday to Friday between 8.00 am and 4.30 pm: the building is un-manned and locked after hours.
Courtesy of: Col Morwood,
Rotary Information Officer, District 9600
More on the Montrose Home can be seen at the Brisbane page, noted below.**
Paul and Jean attend a conference in Melbourne in March of 1935
Here Paul met with District 65 Governor Angus Mitchell, later to be the first RI president from Australia in 1948. Paul and Jean both spoke at the conference and visited several cities while staying in Melbourne.
Memories of other trees
Paul recalls the first tree planted in his own “Friendship Garden” was in honor of the late Walter Drummond, second secretary of Melbourne. “..Many good will trees have been planted by Rotarians, including myself, in other cities in other countries, and many more doubtless will be planted, but the first of them all was Walter’s tree.” (Peregrinations II page 94
Plaque Dedicated to Founder Harris and Past President Angus Mitchell
“Jean and I planted “trees” in a public park near a tree planted by Past International President Sydney Pascall (1931, RC London) and I laid a wreath at the magnificent war memorial.” Perigrinations Volume II copyright Jean Harris 1935
Canberra 1935
Paul Harris (far left) in 1935. Also seen are Sir Robert Garran (Charter President), DG Angus Mitchell (RI President 1948-49), DG Tom Armstrong, and Mrs. Jean Harris in the Australian National Rose Garden in Canberra. (The rest of the people are unidentified.)
Canberra 2002
Paul and Jean’s tree! “From a tiny acorn…”
Harris in Newcastle 1935
In 1935, Paul Harris visited Newcastle and planted a tree in Civic Park, opposite the City Hall, to commemorate the District Conference that he attended.
Newcastle tree across from city hall
The District Governor at the time was Tom Armstrong, a past president of the Rotary Club of Newcastle. In his book, “Peregrinations”, written after his Pacific journey, Paul Harris referred to his visit to Newcastle in glowing terms.
Tree at Parramatta — planted in 1935
District 9600 DG (Brisbane) William H.C. Dethlefs and Noela in 2002. DG Bill is from RC of Maroochydore. His district includes Brisbane, site of the 2003 RI convention. Also, note above, Paul Harris’ essay from Parramatta, District 9690. The tree is located in Prince Alfred Park on the corner of Victoria Road and Church Street, Parramatta. Photo courtesy of the Rotary Foundation.
Harris visits North Sydney in 1935
On 14 March 1935 the Club welcomed Paul Harris, the Founder of Rotary, to its meeting following which he planted a memorial tree (Queensland fire-wheel) in nearby St Leonards Park, after which a photograph recording the occasion was taken in the grandstand of North Sydney Oval next door.
1935 Planting at Sydney
The Rotary Hourglass writes: Jean and Paul. From Sydney, Australia writes Past Director Fred Birks of Founder Paul and Jean Harris: (beside the picture) “It is not anything of news value to say that they have captivated our people. In all my life, I never met a woman who so quietly makes herself loved by other women. My typist met her only a few minutes and remarked that ‘She is the sweetest woman I ever met’.”
Dedication in 1949
In September 1949, when the tree was some 15 years old (it still lives into the 21st century), following the death of Paul Harris in January 1947, a commemorative plaque was placed at the base of the tree.
Dedication of the tree in 1949, continued
A second fire-wheel tree was planted nearby in August 1978 by the then R.I. President, Clem Renouf, on the occasion of the Club’s Golden Anniversary.
Launceston 1935
In 1931/32 RI President Sydney W. Pascall visited the Launceston and planted a tree of friendship in Royal Park. Paul Harris also visited and planted a similar tree in the same park in 1935. The photo above is the Paul Harris Friendship Tree in 2002
Bendigo Circa 1936
Paul and Jean Harris and others standing around a tree dedicated to the Rotary Club of Bendigo, Australia. Used in the February 1937 and June 1942 issue of The Rotarian
Auckland revisited 1983
District 9920 Governor Edmund Lenthall and 1982-1983 RI President Hiroji Mukasa visiting a tree planted in Auckland, New Zealand by Paul Harris in 1935. Used in the February 1983 issue of The Rotarian. Use granted by Edmund Lenthall 13 February 2002
Auckland marker 1935
Marker for “tree of friendship” planted in Auckland, New Zealand in 1935 by Paul Harris. Used in the February 1983 issue of The Rotarian.
Hobart Tree, 1935
Paul Harris planted a tree in St. David’s Park in Hobart on 27 March 1935. The tree was severely damaged by winds in 2004 and had to be cut down. The Hobart City Council replaced it around September 2004. It is into autumn here so there are not many leaves left.
Original Hobart Plaque
The tree was planted on 27 March 1935 in St. David’s Park in Hobart. The Park is inner city, very pleasant with a lot of trees and lawns. The memorial plaque is still there.
Your in Rotary
Roger Sewell
Secretary
Rotary Club in Hobart.
*Peregrinations, Volume II “We became Pacific-Ocean Minded”, page 86, by Paul P. Harris, President Emeritus of Rotary International, Copyright, 1935
Jean T. Harris – Courtesy of the Rotary International Archives
**See more of the Brisbane Club’s involvement in the Montrose home
All photos copyright Rotary International Archives unless noted otherwise