A heritage protected tree planted as part of the original memorial trees (circa 1925) of the specially designed landmark Memorial of Anzac Avenue from Petrie to Redcliffe, will be destroyed; because Procon Developments, the developers of the newly planned 7-11 Petrol Station (on the cnr of Anzac Ave and Ferrier St, Kallangur), don't want to spend the effort working around it.

That's right! The larger memorial tree has been assessed as structurally sound, and in good health. It is just the Developer who does not want to work around it!

Originally the original plans were objected by Moreton Bay Regional council (MBRC) because of the tree, but Procon Developments approached David Dwyer and the Anzac Memorial Avenue Centenary Committee (AMACC), got a letter of support to cut down of the tree (noting accepting $20,000 compensation for the loss of the tree), which left MBRC no avenue for objection.  It went to State Government for their approval, who rejected it, (with the support of the signatures received from this petition at the time), based on the 2 memorial trees being part of the heritage listed Anzac Memorial Avenue.

But Procon Developments didn't like that answer, and took it to Appeals court, and won. With the final court decision made 2 days after Anzac day this year (2018). :(

How disrespectful are Procon being to our Anzac diggers and our Community!

SIGN THIS PETITION AND TELL PROCON THAT WE, LOCALS AND POTENTIAL FUTURE CUSTOMERS, ARE NOT HAPPY!

Heritage Listings of Trees

The State Government Heritage Listing of the Anzac Memorial Avenue can be found here: https://environment.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=602693

With the MBRC Overlay Map app also specifically showing this tree as a “Significant Cultural Heritage Site” here: https://mbrc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a91756f396294148aa23f2673e6ca214

The History of the Anzac Memorial Trees

In 1921, Thomas Rothwell, then president of the Royal Automobile Club Queensland (RACQ) put it to the Club and then to members, for a most grand idea of a landmark Memorial to show respect to the fallen diggers of WW1, who were still held in the weeping hearts of Australians, with the war having only ended 3 years prior.

“In 1921 the President of the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, Mr.T.J. Rothwell, placed the matter before a meeting of that Club. The members decided to adopt his proposal and the Redcliffe Road was selected as suitable for the Memorial. An organising Committee was set up, with Mr.Rothwell as Chairman, to appeal to all motorists for support, as well as the general public, and to raise funds to assist the scheme. Official functions in this regard continued up to 1926, and research has been carried out to obtain details of the project over that period.” ◇

Not only was this a fitting memorial and a much needed road to Redcliffe, but it also was a means to give back to WW1 Veterans, who were desperately needing work.

“Appeal for Funds

A notice appearing in the "Daily Mail" for July 1st, 1922, advised as follows.

"Appeals are now being sent out to every motorist in the Brisbane area to whom the success of the Brisbane to Redcliffe road will be of immense importance."

Besides which it will be a means of relieving the unemployment at present existing among so many of those "Diggers" who have unfortunately been unable to obtain the class of work from which they were withdrawn by reason of their enlisting.” ◇

 

The trees were not only considered a wonderful enhancement to the design, giving it a more grandeur look; But also gave family members of fallen soldiers a chance to donate towards a tree, to be dedicated to their loved one.

“The name of the Scheme was then officially adopted as "Anzac Memorial Avenue", when it was decided that as well as construction of the road, trees would be planted to line the route and make this project a landmark in the State.”◇

“When the scheme was first suggested, it was hoped that Queensland, by means of the movement, would plant the finest avenue in Australia, stretching from Kedron to Redcliffe, a beautiful avenue of trees.” ◇

Types of Trees

"A committee was appointed to carefully consider the types of trees that would be suitable for the Avenue, and to prepare a list and an estimate of the number of the trees required.Placing the trees 60 ft. apart, the estimate was for 1,700 trees for each ten miles of the Avenue, and the cost of preparing the ground, planting, and providing suitable guards was to be under £1 per tree.” ◇

There has been conjuncture that “Slash Pines”, (i.e which species this Memorial Tree is), wasn't in the listed types of trees considered under the original plan, and thus not part of the original 1925 plantings. Though the State Government Heritage Listing mentions “Slash Pines” to be a recent addition to state plantation planning in 1924, with the introducee also now being included in the tree planting committee. So we are all of a conclusion that this tree is a part of the original trees planted in 1925, also being that the arborist reported it as being of a mature age.

“There is a substantial section of mature Slash Pines (Pinus eliottii) between Kippa Ring and Rothwell, plus smaller sections at Kallangur. The first Slash Pines in Queensland were grown in Beerwah and Beerburrum from 1924. Director of Forestry EHF Swain, who introduced the trees from the United States, was a member of the tree planting committee in 1925.”

◇ Excerpts from “The Story Of Anzac Memorial”. Published by Pine Rivers Shire Council, 1993. Researched and written by Merv Ewart and Pat Fairhall.

Available in PDF format here: http://amacc.net.au/index.php/historical-items

Help save this beautiful historic Anzac Memorial Tree and continue to honour our Anzacs, by signing this petition.