When artist Edith Draper arrived in Wollongong from Parramatta, the first thing she painted was the Belmore Basin tea trees. One of her paintings was bought by a couple who had become engaged near the trees.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When Mrs Draper heard the trees had been vandalised the 96-year-old could not understand why anyone would do something so senseless; her works have since become part of two mural panels erected by Wollongong City Council.
"Council is taking a new approach in response to this example of tree vandalism," Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.
"The murals are a physical reminder for both the community who loved the trees and those responsible for their destruction that we do not take vandalism lightly."
The murals are made of artworks, photos and words from the community, and share the space with the damaged trees and are a reminder of the impact the trees destruction had on the community.
The murals will sit alongside the previously installed "Beauty of Trees" signage that that outlines the vandalism that occurred at the site.
Council will continue to monitor the tree in the hope that they will be able to rejuvenate over the next 12 months.
"Tree vandalism is a deliberate act of premeditated, mindless and wanton vandalism. It's a self-centred act that wastes community resources, destroys the beauty of our natural spaces and prevents future generations from enjoying the benefits of trees," Cr Bradbery said.
"We all need to work together to prevent further damage to our city's trees. If you see any acts of tree vandalism, contact Council or the NSW Police."
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
