A memorial tree descendant of Gallipoli’s Lone Pine has been “ripped from its bed” at Torquay’s Centenary Garden of Remembrance, according to the town’s RSL.
The disappearance of the tree had “dismayed” members because it was a memorial to Australians who fought and died near the original Lone Pine, the branch said.
“The Lone Pine is particularly admired as a memorial as it is a living reminder of the awful time Australians had in Turkey at that time,” said branch vice-president Kevin Egan.
“We hope whoever removed the previous Lone Pine will respect this beautiful war memorial tree and realise how important the tree is to veterans’ families and all ex-service people.”
The tree came from a small plantation of pines taken from cuttings of the tree at Gallipoli. The Turkish peninsula on which the Lone Pine stood was the site of several battles during the Gallipoli campaign.
The plantation now supplies Lone Pines for commemorative sites around Australia.
Torquay RSL member Maurie Dale and wife Meryl donated the missing pine as a “small tree” last year.
On Thursday the RSL planted its “much larger” replacement, also a donation from the Dales.
Mr Egan urged the community to visit the new Lone Pine “to appreciate it as a memorial to WW1 servicemen and their families”.
“The Lone Pine Tree is particularly admired as a memorial as it is a living reminder of the awful time Australians had in Turkey at that time.
“We hope whoever removed the previous Lone Pine will respect this beautiful war memorial tree and realise how important the tree is to veterans’ families and all ex-service people.”
