Amy Treasure, Head Boarder and Harriet Comerford Smith, 2020 Head Boarder Elect, have been working together on our very own Blue Tree Project here at the College. The mission of the Blue Tree Project is to help spark difficult conversations and encourage people in rural settings to speak up when battling mental health concerns. A group of very keen boarders spent last Wednesday afternoon painting one of the College trees blue, with the help of Chris Dawson, Property Manager at Santa Maria. The tree can be seen near the Doyle carpark.

“The message associated with the Blue Tree is so important to me living in a boarding community, as often girls can go through distressing times away from their family, which increases their reliance on friends to support them through the challenges,” Amy said.

As explained on the R U OK? organisation’s website, ‘The Blue Tree will hopefully create a space that is comfortable, inviting and open to encourage both staff and students to be asking questions of each other.’

Harriet said, “We hope the location of our blue tree becomes a place to meet, discuss and enrich the lives of those who might be struggling.”