Melbourne Based Japanese Volunteers' Journey to Conserve Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Friends is a Melbourne-based volunteer group established by local Japanese residents to conserve the cherry blossoms at Banksia Park, originally gifted by the Japanese government in 1980.

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Close-up of beautiful Shogetsu cherry blossoms at Banksia Park. Credit: Cherry Friends

Cherry Friends volunteers hard at work. Credit: Cherry Friends

Cherry Friends members received the Foreign Minister's Commendation in 2022. Credit: Consulate General of Japan, Melbourne

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