Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth IIPrint Page

The trees commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and acknowledges her 70 years of service as Australia`s Head of State. The avenue also honours previous festival queens and princesses of the Blackheath Rhododendron Festival which also commemorates its 70th anniversary. 

The project received funding of $17,000 from the Queen`s Platinum Jubilee Tree Planting Program which will run from 2021-2024. 

Elizabeth II (21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime, and was head of state of 15 realms at the time of her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British monarch and the longest verified reign of any female monarch in history.  

The Queen isn't the only one celebrating a platinum jubilee in 2022. Blackheath's Rhododendron Festival is also commemorating 70 years since the first festival was held in 1953.

And that fact may have have worked in the festival's favour when an application was submitted for a grant from the Australian government's 'planting trees for the Queen's jubilee program.' 

Festival president, Elizabeth Giddey, said: "Our festival has been looking for a suitable project to contribute to the town, both visually and economically, along with something that will enhance the social and cultural dynamic of Blackheath and the Upper Blue Mountains.
Blue Mountains Gazette, 3 August 2022.

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