Trees uprooted from school the day after planting

Trees were stolen from Five Dock public school the day after they were planted, with parents still hopeful of finding a culprit.

Five Dock Public School had trees stolen from the school grounds, the day after they were planted.

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A number of costly plants were stolen from Five Dock public school the day after they were sowed by volunteers.

Five Dock public school Parents and Citizens member Katie Head said that a ‘working bee’ was put on by the school community to help grow their bush tucker garden early in June.

Club Five Dock and Bunnings Warehouse assisted the school with purchasing the plants, in a program aimed to teach students where their food comes from and sustainable living.

“We had a working bee, everything looked great. Come the next morning, we realised people had broken in and stolen the plants,” she said.

“They stole the most expensive plants and made a mess around the playground. It’s very disappointing.”

School principal Amanda Dawkins noticed the plants were stolen and that bark had been thrown across the playground. They appeared to have targeted the citrus plants.

P & C parents are still keen to discover any information that might help them find a culprit.

“It’s such a great community. It had to be someone within the community to know we had the working bee that day,” Ms Head said.

She said the school explained to the kids what had happened.

”Our Koori Kids spent time creating signs for all the plants and were particularly dissapointed when they heard the news,” she said.

According to Burwood Police Area Command, a working bee was put on by the school on Saturday June 1.

At some point over the weekend, four plants were stolen. On Monday, the school reported the theft to Burwood PAC and the next day, the plants were located in a central area of the school.

Five Dock principal Amanda Dawkins said the school was disappointed given the time and effort they put into the outdoor areas and their recent focus on teaching students about the natural environment.

Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas said: “Five Dock public school contributes a great deal to our community, and I was disappointed to hear the new trees at the school were recently stolen.”

The council has made contact with the school to help them assist in planting new trees.