Weather brings down Diggers tree, War Memorial, Canberra

Eric Frei · 29th December 2008, 08:48 PM

I put in red what I found most interesting.

Quote:

THE majestic old pine tree commemorating Aussie Diggers who fought at Gallipoli has been split in two by a wild storm.

Towering 30m, the tree was planted in the grounds of Canberra's Australian War Memorial in 1934 as a tribute to the Diggers who died taking Lone Pine ridge on August 6, 1915.

One Australian soldier who took part in the battle, in which his brother died, found a pine cone on one of the branches used by the Turks as overhead cover for their trenches.

Benjamin Smith from Inverell sent the cone home to his mum who grew the tree from seed shed by the cone.

Years later she gave the tree to the War Memorial to be planted to honour her son - 23-year-old Private Mark Alexander Drice from the Fourth Battalion - and other mothers' sons who fell at Lone Pine.

But on Saturday afternoon a lightning strike or a strong wind gust snapped off a large part of the Aleppo pine, leaving a gaping hole in its side.

War Memorial spokeswoman Marylou Pooley said a tree surgeon would decide today whether the tree could be saved. "It was planted here so we should never forget those who died for the freedom we enjoy today," she said.

Adrian Moses and his family from Newport were visiting the War Memorial when they noticed the damaged tree.

Mr Moses, 45, an arborist, believes the wind split the tree, not lightning.

Pointing to the gaping hole, Mr Moses showed a large fungal growth that had weakened it. He said if lightning had damaged the tree it would die but since it appeared the damage was caused by wind the tree could survive another 70 years.

"It was just a matter of time before it snapped," he said.

Tree surgeons to assess War Memorial pine - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Weather brings down Diggers&squo; tree, War Memorial, Canberra | The Daily Telegraph

Jeff Darby · 29th December 2008, 09:01 PM

Interesting...maybe they should clone this tree as it will be the same tree, and replant it not to far from this damage one.

With the damaged pine, I can not see the wound clearly, however clean it up as best as they can and retain the tree, while the clone is growing to replace it we can still have the benefit of the original lone pine. Once the clone has gained sufficient size remove the damaged pine.

JayD

Eric Frei · 29th December 2008, 09:21 PM

JayD

On the two downed limbs look at the dark rot on the tops where they joined the trunk.

Now look at the other one in the pic on the right, these need either reduction, cabling or both. However on a large low lateral limb like that a single cable could still result in a "cupboard door" failure, the limb swings off clockwise or anti clockwise. Need two cable from both vectors to stop it doing that.

Also the little green fence needs to be made a lot bigger.

newguy18 · 30th December 2008, 04:56 AM

Definatly needed cabling,2 or 3 cables as well as some trunk bolting.Some reduction pruning wouldn't have hurt either.

Sean Freeman · 4th January 2009, 10:51 PM

I always treat with scepticism the reporting in newspapers, however even if only parts of what has been published are accurate it is extraordinarily disappointing that in 2009 someone calling themselves an Arborist would give such terrible advice to the managers of one of the most iconic trees connected to the ANZAC tradition.

Alex Shigo would do double back flips reading quoted statements about "draining the water from hollows to prevent decay", scraping out the same hollows and applying fungicide, constructing structures to ensure water sheds from the hollows????

Some reduction pruning might be justified especially since such a large portion of the tree has been lost but it certainly would not be the first thing to be done, removing even more photosythetic capacity from a significantly impacted tree is not best practice imo. There may indeed have been advice to improve the soil and root environment for the tree, but if so gets abslutely no mention in any of the reports....cleaning up the wound and packing the cavity is the reported priority????

I am certain that there are some very good skilled and experienced Arborists in the Canberra region, surely the AWM would have access to their advice?

jim1nz · 6th January 2009, 04:50 AM

Good post Sean.

It unfortunate some smooth talkers can convince someone with little knowlege that they know whats best for trees.

Reducing pines is not usually a good option. The non invasive bracing systems available now should have been installed before this happened.

29th December 2008, 09:01 PM	#2
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Re: Weather brings down Diggers tree, War Memorial, Canberra Interesting...maybe they should clone this tree as it will be the same tree, and replant it not to far from this damage one. With the damaged pine, I can not see the wound clearly, however clean it up as best as they can and retain the tree, while the clone is growing to replace it we can still have the benefit of the original lone pine. Once the clone has gained sufficient size remove the damaged pine. JayD __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

29th December 2008, 09:21 PM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Weather brings down Diggers tree, War Memorial, Canberra JayD On the two downed limbs look at the dark rot on the tops where they joined the trunk. Now look at the other one in the pic on the right, these need either reduction, cabling or both. However on a large low lateral limb like that a single cable could still result in a "cupboard door" failure, the limb swings off clockwise or anti clockwise. Need two cable from both vectors to stop it doing that. Also the little green fence needs to be made a lot bigger. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

30th December 2008, 04:56 AM	#4
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Weather brings down Diggers tree, War Memorial, Canberra Definatly needed cabling,2 or 3 cables as well as some trunk bolting.Some reduction pruning wouldn't have hurt either. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

4th January 2009, 10:51 PM	#5
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Re: Weather brings down Diggers tree, War Memorial, Canberra I always treat with scepticism the reporting in newspapers, however even if only parts of what has been published are accurate it is extraordinarily disappointing that in 2009 someone calling themselves an Arborist would give such terrible advice to the managers of one of the most iconic trees connected to the ANZAC tradition. Alex Shigo would do double back flips reading quoted statements about "draining the water from hollows to prevent decay", scraping out the same hollows and applying fungicide, constructing structures to ensure water sheds from the hollows???? Some reduction pruning might be justified especially since such a large portion of the tree has been lost but it certainly would not be the first thing to be done, removing even more photosythetic capacity from a significantly impacted tree is not best practice imo. There may indeed have been advice to improve the soil and root environment for the tree, but if so gets abslutely no mention in any of the reports....cleaning up the wound and packing the cavity is the reported priority???? I am certain that there are some very good skilled and experienced Arborists in the Canberra region, surely the AWM would have access to their advice?

6th January 2009, 04:50 AM	#6
jim1nz Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: International, Germany Posts: 476	Re: Weather brings down Diggers tree, War Memorial, Canberra Good post Sean. It unfortunate some smooth talkers can convince someone with little knowlege that they know whats best for trees. Reducing pines is not usually a good option. The non invasive bracing systems available now should have been installed before this happened. __________________ SPEED ALWAYS FOLLOWS TECHNIQUE

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

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
5 memorial trees poisoned\| O?Connell\| Oberon Shire Council	Eric Frei	General Tree Chat	12	15th February 2009 07:14 AM