Sacred Tree

dguntertrees · 1st August 2008, 09:39 AM

Tree death sparks sacred sites plea - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I wonder who the contractor was, and if anyone out Alice way knows about Arborists?

Eric Frei · 1st August 2008, 08:44 PM

LOL, the idiot pruned it ... then it died! And only got a $1000 fine!!

Quote:

Tree death sparks sacred sites plea

The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority says the custodians of a sacred ironwood tree in Alice Springs are extremely distressed by its destruction.

Chief executive Benedict Scambary says a man was convicted and fined $1,000 this week for carrying out work on a sacred site.

Mr Scambary says the man had a certificate allowing him to prune the tree, but he failed to comply with the conditions of the certificate which resulted in the tree's death.

He says most mature native trees in Alice Springs are sacred sites and he has urged all residents to take the Northern Territory Sacred Sites Act seriously.

"We have two processes. One is a register inspection where people can apply to inspect the register of sacred sites to determine if a sacred site may exist on their property," he said.

"The second process is to apply for an authority certificate which entails a process of consultation with custodians, on site inspection of the area."

Eric Frei · 1st August 2008, 11:41 PM

Hey, check out what this elder did to a guy who tampered with a tree.

Singer fined over sacred tree dispute - Breaking News - National - Breaking News

Quote:

Aboriginal leader Bernard Singer has been fined almost $2,000 over an alcohol-fuelled incident in which he threatened a man with a wooden stake for cutting down a sacred tree.

The 41-year-old Anagnu Pitjantjatjarra Yankunytjatjara (APY) chairman was convicted after pleading guilty at his Coober Pedy Magistrates Court trial to threatening Bungala Aboriginal Corporation chairman Ken Larkins on May 5.

Police accused Singer of doing "doughnuts" in a government car in front of Mr Larkins' garage at Indulkana and bashing cabinets in his office with a wooden stick before punching him in the jaw outside.

Singer has always admitted everything except punching Mr Larkins - an element of the aggravated assault charge the prosecutor dropped on Thursday before Singer's guilty plea for threatening Mr Larkins.

Singer argued that as a traditional custodian of the land it was his duty to confront Mr Larkins for desecrating the tree.

Mr Larkins cut the tree to enable trucks to deliver a transportable home to the APY Lands.

But, Singer said, it was a mistake to confront him after drinking a bottle of Johnny Walker whisky and six beers alone from a stash in a gravel mound at Agnes Creek, off the APY lands.

"Larkins said that he had done it," Mr Singer told the court, referring to the cutting of the tree and why he threatened the man.

"I asked him did he consult? ... He said it was just another tree."

Singer's barrister David Stokes questioned the police investigation, saying officers arrested and handcuffed a sleeping Singer as if he were a high risk suspect only on the word of his alleged victim and three of Mr Larkins' employees.

One of the officers said he didn't pursue taking statements from any witnesses except Mr Larkins' employees after they told him no one else would cooperate with police.

Magistrate Rosanne McInnes said there were strong grounds for excluding the police interview of Singer.

But she didn't because it failed to prove the one remaining charge against Singer - that he had been drinking at his homeland.

"There is no reliable or compelling evidence at the conclusion of the case that he was drinking anywhere on the APY lands," Magistrate McInnes said.

She fined Singer $1,240 for the assault, $640 for misusing a vehicle and banned him from driving for seven days.

She also issued a restraining order preventing Singer from entering or remaining on the APY Lands within 24 hours of consuming alcohol or any other intoxicating substance.

Singer was also disqualified from possessing a firearm and police were given permission to search any property where they believed he could be holding a gun.

treeseer · 2nd August 2008, 12:35 AM

in the first case, what "condition" did the tree pruner guy violate?

in the second, how does Larkins get off scot-free?

Eric Frei · 2nd August 2008, 12:39 AM

Tis a strange land eh!

willem · 2nd August 2008, 10:35 AM

Hello Ekka,

Could you fill me in on the sacred trees. Are these trees on sacred land or is it just one species that's sacred??

Eric Frei · 2nd August 2008, 10:44 AM

The trees are on sacred land ... and anything on sacred land is pretty much sacred too!

Sean Freeman · 2nd August 2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

in the first case, what "condition" did the tree pruner guy violate?

in the second, how does Larkins get off scot-free?

Don't know exactly what is meant by the term sacred lands in this case, I have been fortunate enough to have done inspections on sacred trees, not growing in areas where my presence would be prohibited ie tribe specific dreaming or secret buisness.

In any case to undertake any work on native title land you are required to get permission, and that would be the condition...he would have been required by NT law relating to native title to consult with the traditional owners, it would appear he didn't.

As for scot free, well he was convicted and fined under NT law, I would be very surprised if he escapes the punishment of tribal law, I have no idea what that would be but guessing it won't be spearing (but could well be a bloody hard beating with wooden clubs!!)

treeseer · 4th August 2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Freeman

...it won't be spearing (but could well be a bloody hard beating with wooden clubs!!)

WOODEN clubs, very fitting. Gotta

folks who take their trees that seriously.

Sean Freeman · 4th August 2008, 09:55 PM

Guy the club thing is just me guessing I am not nor have ever been an expert on native law, so please nobody take offence by what I wrote, I do not know what the traditional punishment would be for that offence.

Drouin Tree Service · 5th August 2008, 12:09 AM

Police accused Singer of doing "doughnuts" in a government car

But, Singer said, it was a mistake to confront him after drinking a bottle of Johnny Walker whisky and six beers alone from a stash in a gravel mound at Agnes Creek, off the APY lands.

She fined Singer $1,240 for the assault, $640 for misusing a vehicle and banned him from driving for seven days.

Gee i wonder who's going to pay that!!!

kimtree · 5th August 2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_lopa

Police accused Singer of doing "doughnuts" in a government car

But, Singer said, it was a mistake to confront him after drinking a bottle of Johnny Walker whisky and six beers alone from a stash in a gravel mound at Agnes Creek, off the APY lands.

She fined Singer $1,240 for the assault, $640 for misusing a vehicle and banned him from driving for seven days.

Gee i wonder who's going to pay that!!!

Us lot and we paid for the piss too

1st August 2008, 09:39 AM	#1
dguntertrees Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mudgeeraba, SE Queensland Posts: 80	Sacred Tree Tree death sparks sacred sites plea - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) I wonder who the contractor was, and if anyone out Alice way knows about Arborists?

2nd August 2008, 12:35 AM	#4
treeseer Former Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SE USA Posts: 753	Re: Sacred Tree in the first case, what "condition" did the tree pruner guy violate? in the second, how does Larkins get off scot-free?

2nd August 2008, 12:39 AM	#5
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,816	Re: Sacred Tree Tis a strange land eh! __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

2nd August 2008, 10:35 AM	#6
willem Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: the netherlands Posts: 188	Re: Sacred Tree Hello Ekka, Could you fill me in on the sacred trees. Are these trees on sacred land or is it just one species that's sacred??

2nd August 2008, 10:44 AM	#7
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,816	Re: Sacred Tree The trees are on sacred land ... and anything on sacred land is pretty much sacred too! __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

4th August 2008, 09:55 PM	#10
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Re: Sacred Tree Guy the club thing is just me guessing I am not nor have ever been an expert on native law, so please nobody take offence by what I wrote, I do not know what the traditional punishment would be for that offence.

5th August 2008, 12:09 AM	#11
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,697	Re: Sacred Tree Police accused Singer of doing "doughnuts" in a government car But, Singer said, it was a mistake to confront him after drinking a bottle of Johnny Walker whisky and six beers alone from a stash in a gravel mound at Agnes Creek, off the APY lands. She fined Singer $1,240 for the assault, $640 for misusing a vehicle and banned him from driving for seven days. Gee i wonder who's going to pay that!!! __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode