Tree of life grows again

IT’S taken nearly six years but an effort to replace a historical tree in Black Hill has finally set down firm roots.

Known as the tree of life, the original plant was identified with a marker and put in place on 8 May, 1973 on the corner of Sim and Chisolm streets on the road up to the lookout.

“It was planted on what was then World Red Cross Day,” said Neil Huybregts, president of Friends of Black Hill Reserve.

“It was the Red Cross’ year of the environment, and the City of Ballarat decided to plant a tree, they got the mayor out, just as we have today, and a bunch of kids from the primary school came along.

“It was a celebration of life, and the environment. Basically, without a living environment none of us are going to be here. And then the tree died.”

It’s not known how long the original tree had been missing for, although Mr Huybregts said it wasn’t there when he moved to the area eight years ago.

While it’s not clear what species was originally planted as the tree of life, a second nearby historical tree that was placed during the same month of the same year is a eucalyptus obliqua, commonly known as a messmate, so that’s what the group went with.

“It’s a local species, grown from wild seed,” Mr Huybregts said.

“One of the aspects of life is that things die but then others come along behind. And that’s what we’re doing.

“It was a tree for life. It was celebrating life.”