Marquis gifts Lismore students rare macadamia trees

The world’s largest macadamia producer has gifted Richmond River High School agriculture students two rare macadamia trees. Here’s why.

Marquis Macadamias has gifted two rare macadamia trees to Lismore students for World Macadamia Nut Day on September 4.

The annual national day is a celebration of the uniquely Australian nut that dates back 60 million years in ancient rainforests on Australia’s east coast.

Students from Richmond River High School’s agriculture class potted up the native rough-shelled macadamia (macadamia tetraphylla) tree and a Macadamia Conservation Trust 1 (MCT1) tree to ‘get growing’.

Once they are established, the two young plants will be placed permanently in the ground at the North Lismore site of the school’s agriculture plot.

The gifted trees are to encourage the next generation into the macadamia industry and also to raise awareness of the need for conservation.

Richmond River High School students potting up the rare native rough-shelled macadamia (macadamia tetraphylla) tree and an Macadamia Conservation Trust 1 (MCT1) tree gifted to their agriculture department by Marquis Macadamias.

Matt Weinert, grower liaison officer at Marquis Macadamias, said Richmond River High has a great agriculture program.

“We’re here today to encourage the students to get involved in agriculture, especially in the macadamia industry,” Mr Weinert said.

“The macadamia industry is a $120 million industry in the Northern Rivers, 38 per cent of national production.”

The Macadamia Conservation Trust 1 is a new variety of macadamia that has been widely planted in Australia.

Macadamia farmers have had a difficult season with issues on the plateau with farmers losing soil to erosion and being unable to harvest on the back of the Big Wet.

“The newer plantings down on the flood plain ... tens of thousands of trees have been lost in those plantings,” Mr Weinert said.

Denise Bond from the Macadamia Conservation Trust said three macadamia species are now listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

“Macadamia integrifolia, native to southeast Queensland, is listed as ‘vulnerable’ while M. ternifolia, native to Queensland, and M. tetraphylla, from Northern NSW, are in the more threatened category of ‘endangered’,” Ms Bond said.

Richmond River High principal Luke Woodward said he was stoked students could experience interaction between what they’re learning and how that can translate into a career path.

“I am happy that we have had an event where students have been informed around what is one of the high growth areas of agriculture in our region,” Mr Woodward said.

He reiterated the importance of the connection between industry and schools.

“Together we can make a way forward in supporting our young people into careers and also for the local industry to know there are passionate young people in the area that given an opportunity will pursue that in future employment,” he said.