Sunbury RSL’s Lone Pine replaced after vandals destroyed original

THE Sunbury RSL sub-branch has had its beloved Anzac Lone Pine replaced after vandals destroyed its original earlier this year.

Sunbury RSL sub branch president Graeme Williams and secretary Harry Beckwith at the site of a newly planted Lone Pine. Picture: Kylie Else

THE Sunbury RSL sub-branch has had its beloved Anzac Lone Pine replaced.

The original pine tree, planted on Anzac Day 2014, was destroyed on January 22, when limbs were snapped overnight by vandals.

The event saddened and angered club members who attach great reverence to the plant.

FURY AS VANDALS DESTORY LONE PINE

SUNBURY RSL MEMBERS HONOURED

Last Wednesday, the arrival of a purpose-built steel guard allowed for a new seedling, also a descendant of the original Lone Pine, planted by Hume Council workers.

Club secretary Harry Beckwith said there was a sense of relief a replacement had been found, especially before Anzac Day.

The new Lone Pine tree in Sunbury.

“If you think of our club as a family, the symbolism of the Lone Pine goes back to our roots,” Mr Beckwith said.

“There is a cemetery there (at the site of the battle of Lone Pine in Gallipoli) where once there was a forest, so the legend of the Lone Pine is woven into the fabric of Australian servicemen.”

Sunbury councillor Jack Medcraft said he hoped the steel barrier, which had been reinforced by a concrete base, would provide continued protection for the planting.

“It’s a shame this is the measure you have to take to ward of vandals, but residents will be aware of the significance of this tree, particularly to servicemen and women,” he said.

The battle of Lone Pine was one of the bloodiest episodes of the Gallipoli conflict with 2200 Australians killed or wounded and around 7000 Turkish killed and wounded over four days of the battle. About 910 Australian soldiers died.

The Lone Pine tree damaged at Sunbury RSL in January. It was deemed it unsalvageable by a council arborist.