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Issue 155 Spring 2023
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Publication of the Anglesea Community House
A FALLEN TREE REVIVED Liz Clark A tree stood in a paddock - silent and patient, dignified and stately through its growing years, its maturing years, until it reached 120 years of age, give or take a little. The last few seasons had been difficult for the tree, with too much rain and incredibly strong gusty winds. The Monterey Pine’s root system began to rot and fail and finally an exceptionally windy night wrenched its roots from the earth and sent it crashing to the ground. It lay there on its side, no longer a landmark, more like a fallen giant, shattered, devastated. The tree had been part of several plantings of pine windbreaks when the Estate was set up as a vineyard early in the 20th century. Similar non indigenous trees had been planted widely in farming areas in Australia as they are stronger, more long lived and taller growing than the native eucalypts. They naturally become habitats for many species of birds, especially the black cockatoos, who delighted in feasting on young pine cones. Locally if a tree dies, greedy eyes consider the amount of firewood that could be available. Many onlookers eyed the tree, and as months passed, they wondered what the owners at the Bellbrae Estate vineyard would be doing with all that wood. Driving along the Anglesea Road, young Brock Fidler observed the tree with a keen interest. It reminded him of the many years he had spent at his aunt’s
property as a youngster, running wild, climbing trees, crawling through bushes, building cubbies, generally ‘monkeying’ around. He had been born in Lorne, grew up in Melbourne, but frequently spent time at Moggs Creek and Anglesea and along the coast, holidaying, surfing, immersed in nature. He can’t imagine how many times he must have passed the tree with little more thought than acknowledging its size and stature, if he noticed it at all. Suddenly the tree fascinated him and called to his artistic soul from the perspective of a wonderful piece of timber. He began to imagine what could be done with such a beautiful specimen. Working as a tree lopper he had recently learnt a new appreciation for timber and had managed to souvenir a few pieces of wood that caught his fancy. He may have been drawn to the bark, the colour of the wood, even the scent, and he was able to use these samples to create small bowls, carve shapes or just tease his imagination with thoughts of what they could become. This fallen tree offered many possibilities. Brock put together a small folio of his art and wood working projects and approached Richard McDougall, owner of Bellbrae Estate, convincing him to provide the opportunity to turn the old tree into something new, alive, attractive, unusual. After some discussion
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