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Lone Pine To Be Removed Following Mindless Vandalism

In an act that defies belief, the Lone Pine (Aleppo pine or pinus brutia) in Victory Park has been vandalised and will be removed early next week.

By Latrobe City - 30th March 2012 - Back to News

The tree, and the star pickets surrounding it, appears to have been pushed or pulled over sometime over the night of Thursday 22 March or early hours of Friday 23 March.

Latrobe City mayor, Councillor Ed Vermeulen, said that the tree had been replaced in 2007 when the previous Lone Pine developed a dangerous lean following drought and subsequent rain.

"That a person or persons could wantonly destroy this tree is incredible. It is an important tree in our community, in particular to members of the RSL, who have a particular investment in the significance of this tree.

"An Aleppo pine has stood on this spot in Victory Park since ANZAC Day 1967. This species of tree has come to be a commemorative icon for Gallipoli, where troops used a lone pine on a plateau as a marker to measure the angles to their targets. When troops were withdrawn, a soldier took a pine cone as a souvenir and from that cone five seedlings were grown and one was planted at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. From that seedling, other Aleppo pines have been grown and planted as commemorative trees.

"With this in mind it is difficult to comprehend why someone would want to destroy this particular tree. The community has every right to be outraged at this attack," Cr Vermeulen said.

Ward Councillor, Dale Harriman, said that sourcing a replacement tree would take some time.

"As you might imagine, this type of tree is not so easy to replace. It is not a stock tree that is available at every nursery; rather it is a tree with special significance and is usually only used in a commemorative planting. A new Aleppo pine will be ordered and once received will be planted at the same spot. It’s important that we preserve this iconic tree especially in the lead up to ANZAC Day.

"As a community we must make a stand against this sort of mindless vandalism and show the vandals that their actions will not be tolerated," Cr Harriman concluded.

Media Enquiries:

Media Relations Team

Telephone: 5128 5458 or 0409 797 498

Jacinta Kennedy, Manager Community Relations

Telephone: 5128 5421 or 0401 824 195

For general enquiries, contact Latrobe City Council on 1300 367 700.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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