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I’ll admit it, I’ve lived up a tree before to stop it being chopped down. I am passionate about sustainability and our environment.
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I cared for the trees at the end of Church Street and was sad to hear they were coming down. For some reason our native trees just don't seem as easy for kids to climb. I could see, in the grooves on the branches of the camphors, the memories of thousands of children who have climbed them.
I’ve been up them myself and weeds or not they were beautiful trees. I feel the levels of passion held so dear for our town and for the trees. I’ve been there, I understand it.
Just as I looked at the trees however, I also watched with increasing alarm the personal attacks being thrown at two of our elected representatives. The Mayor being threatened by men with a running chainsaw.
Weeks of vicious, personal online attacks against both Mayor Dominic King and Councillor Jennie Fenton. Comments that the Mayor and his family should leave town and never come back. People hoping that he can never sleep again. The list goes on (and on and on).
I am not one to have many good feelings towards politicians – I see many that are in it for personal ego, for power and for money.
That is not something I have seen in our current Councillors. I see a group of individuals who have stood up to try to make their communities a better place.
Whether we always agree with them or not, they have been elected by us all to act to the best of their ability. It also makes them easy targets – so just as they were elected by the community, it is as a community that we need to stand when they are threatened and abused because of their position.
We live in a stunning area, and in a passionate community. I love living here, and love the diversity. The trees are now gone, but their echoes and memories will remain for a long time to come.
I live with hope we can move forwards from this together, wiser and stronger, and, eventually with forgiveness and understanding. We are worth it, and our community deserves nothing less.
Kev Doye, Kalang
Appalled
I was appalled at reading about an incident on Hyde Street where (and I never thought I'd find myself saying this) chainsaw-wielding maniacs threatened our town's mayor.
If this was meant as protest action, these people have a lot to learn. To quote from some of the camphor laurel protectionists’ own Letters-to-the-Editor, “there is no justification” for acts of violence or threats of violence.
And “shame ... shame ... shame and even more shame” on these men who thought terrorising people – particularly children – in the main street of the town which they are purportedly trying to save was an appropriate action to take.
So you want to save a couple of trees but you are happy enough to destroy the fabric of our community to do it?
Get over yourself!