IT\u2019S taken nearly six years but an effort to replace a historical tree in Black Hill has finally set down firm roots.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was planted on what was then World Red Cross Day,\u201d said Neil Huybregts, president of Friends of Black Hill Reserve.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the Red Cross\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not known how long the original tree had been missing for, although Mr Huybregts said it wasn\u2019t there when he moved to the area eight years ago.<\/p>\n