Vandals hack down trees planted to commemorate 1967 Tasmanian bushfires
Trees planted to commemorate the 1967 bushfires tragedy have been destroyed for the second time in three months.
Tasmania
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TREES planted to commemorate the 1967 bushfires tragedy in Snug have been destroyed for the second time in three months.
Callous vandals hacked 13 of the 50 memorial trees to the ground in Beach Rd on Sunday night.
Six trees were also destroyed in October last year.
Those trees have since been replanted, with some of them knocked down again during the latest incident.
The crepe myrtle trees were planted in 2016 in advance of the 50th anniversary of the fires as an ongoing memorial to those who lost their lives and to the resilience of the survivors.
The Black Tuesday disaster of February 7, 1967, claimed the lives of 64 people and communities lost homes, businesses and public facilities such as schools and churches.
Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said the two acts of vandalism would cost the council more than $10,000.
He said they had reported the damage to police.
“The community is horrified by the disrespect these vandals have shown towards people who lost their lives, family members, homes and livelihoods in the ’67 bushfires,” Cr Winter said.
Cr David Grace, who was chair of the working group which organised the trees and the 50th anniversary commemoration, said it was a “devastating” blow to the community.
“It’s devastating to this community, particularly as the 52nd anniversary of the bushfires is just weeks away,” he said.
“We encourage anyone who saw the vandalism to contact the police.”
Local homeowner Graeme, who lived through the 1967 fires, said it was a “sad thing” to happen for second time.
He said the entire neighbourhood was shocked and he heard about the attack before he even saw the felled trees.
“I don’t think they realise what the trees symbolise to be honest,” he said.
“It’s unbelievable, I hope they catch them.”
The council will again replace the trees, but they won’t be replanted until May or June, and will miss the 51st anniversary.
jack.paynter@news.com.au
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