Giant gum goes
FOR more than 30 years I have been able to gaze at the giant gum tree over the road from my home on Dooen Road.
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In that time I can’t tell you the number of times I have cursed its presence.
Every time the wind blew, depositing its debris in my yard, or being woken by a large flock of corellas, which filled the tree top.
The magpies too, which nest in its branches, dive bombing me as I tended to my front garden or collected the mail.
But it was a meeting place for many and every day a traveller would seek a reprieve from the summer heat in its shade.
It stood like a companion to the truck drivers who parked alongside it for a night’s rest.
Over the years I have seen several swaggies and hitchhikers rest against its large trunk, and one day we were entertained by a man resting in the shade playing music while he enjoyed a refreshment.
To say I was shocked to see a work crew move in last Tuesday armed with chainsaws and a cherry picker is an understatement.
They laboured away with the noise of their chainsaw only interrupted by the loud thud of each of the tree branches as they hit the ground.
We watched on as they worked, making bets as to how far they would trim it back.
At day’s end there was only one long centre branch left upon its large trunk.
In the street light, it resembled a large fist with a finger raised as a rude gesture to its impending demise.
The next morning saw the arrival of the stump muncher and we realised the tree was not long for the world.
The work crew attached a long steel cable to the last remaining branch and the skills of the man with the chainsaw were on show as it still stood upright after being cut.
It was then up to the front end loader.
Rearing up on its rear wheels as it took the strain, the last remaining branch hit the earth with a loud bang.
The work crew toiled for several more hours to cut down the large trunk.
In halves with its inner side exposed, the evidence was there.
Like so many of its branches, the tree was full of disease and rot from top to bottom.
When the stump muncher started filling the air with dust and noise, I left to visit a friend. When I returned, there was an empty space.
The only remaining evidence of the tree’s existence was a small amount of saw dust on the ground. In a way, I am sad its gone, for it is now an empty space.
I hope there will be another tree planted in its place. I often wonder how old it was and who planted it.
I would like to commend the workmen who cut it down. They used the utmost skill and care while they did the job.
MARIA KRAUSE
Horsham
Biggest Morning Tea
WE would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported our Biggest Morning Tea at the Powerhouse on Tuesday, May 24.
To all the wonderful helpers who baked and helped with setting up, cleaning up and donating goods for the raffle.
A big thank you to everyone who bought tickets and turned up to make it such a great success.
The money we raised as we all know goes to a great cause and this year we are happy to say that we raised $1256.45.
Thank you all for your support.
LILI GORTER
Pinnacle - Powerhouse
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