E X H I B I T I O N

By the Bridge

Well hello there grand old man,

Majestic in winter rain you stand,

I see you managed to get your feet all wet,

And yet your dominance you have kept.

Wide and tall you claim your space,

To hold upon this earth, your place.

And I a traveller just passing by

Can only wonder at what memories lie,

Entwined within your weather aged bough,

And come the chance would you allow

Your story to be told?

Written by Karl Wood for the Tribute to Trees exhibition. 3/01/2021

Photo by K. Wood Helena River Aug. 2017.

The Majestic Clarke Tree

Photo taken by:John Stokes ( iPhone)

Suburb taken: Brigadoon

Year: 2014

Taken at sun set prior to a a storm

Nature's Crime Scene

Submitted by Rebekah Wood

Photograph taken: Wednesday 30th December 2020, 11:15am

South Guildford

The Tree

by David Rowbotham

From the book : All the room (found on poetrylibrary.edu.au)

This great tree, green and soundless,

Exploded and stilled around us,

More miracle than menace,

Is the love that rose within us.

It is our dark reflector,

And we, like it, are ready

For further growing greater

When this gesture leaves our body.

We, with the tree, are breathless;

We, with its strength, are deathless.

Big Ol' Oak Tree

by Emily Fenner Wilson

I would like to share the sad tale of “Big Ol’ Oak Tree”, as I call him. In fact there were two big oak trees down at Fish Market Reserve and over the last 6 years we have seen both die. One a few years after the other.

It breaks my heart, honestly.

We can see Big Ol’ Oak Tree from our front verandah. I have had the pleasure of watching people get married under his boughs and to have photo sessions there and of course thousands of children must have climbed on him and swung on his tyre swing over the many years of his life.

I have included special photos from my family and the Oak just from the last few years. My children climbing him and me sitting under his shade, feeding my baby and ending with his skeletal frame as it is today.

Why did he die? Trees have a lifespan like all living things, maybe it was his time? Maybe it’s overuse of herbicide? Maybe it’s a changing water table or climate change? I don’t know but I am so saddened as I am at every big tree old tree that has fallen or been felled in Guildford recently.

~(circa) Photos from 2014 to 2021~