On Thursday 23rd February 2024 I celebrated the 71st anniversary of my birth. I have now launched into my 8th decade of the joys and hopes, grief and anguish of my human pilgrimage..

To celebrate this anniversary and all that will follow I am inviting friends and family members to plant a tree on or around the 23rd February each year. I hope you will share these plantings with me so I can build a digital album.

My own planting on my 70th birthday was by way of a donation to the Foundation For National Parks & Wildlife. My donation was made possible through a generous birthday gift that has enabled me to have 5 trees planted in memory of my parents.

Thanks to Oddur Tom Augustsson who planted the Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) in Carseldine and John Frame who planted a 3m high native Blue Quandong (Eleocarpus grandis) on his property.Melissa Conway celebrated with a Lemon Myrtle planting/

Again I extend the invitation to you my readers to join this celebration of treeplanting.

My hope is to create a ” Birthday Album” of your planting and invite you to send a photo with you tree or shrub/bush. You can add your pic to the Discussion forum of this event or email me on robertsontony@yahoo.com

This event will continue through these years of my 8th decade so that you can find the best time for planting.

I  acknowledge the land of the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations where I was born and pay respect to Elders, past and  present

On this day I give thanks for my parents now deceased, my sister and brothers, cousins and relatives of several generations who nurtured, loved and challenged me.

I give thanks for the neighbours, school friends, work colleagues, travel companions, lecturers, employers, lovers and life friends who have shared the journey over 70 years

.I wish a “Happy Birthday” to each of you for your celebration of the birthing day in your life. May the year ahead be a time of growth, compassion, commitment and love in so many ways for each of us.

Another project I am working on in these latter years is updating  my digital biography. Yes, here in images are the highlights captured by other peoples lens. If you have an image you would like to contribute feel free to send it in for inclusion. Please feel free to add comments and your memories of these moments.