Tassie Elm

[wheelinround]

Hanging anger led to cutting


Article from:

DAVID KILLICK
February 28, 2008 12:00am

A BLACKMANS Bay man cut down a 130-year-old elm tree in Franklin Square because he was angry about the public hanging of aborginals there, a court has heard.
Tour guide Paul Neville Paxton, 36, today pleaded guilty in the Hobart Magistrates' Court to unlawfully injuring property and committing a nuisance.
Police Prosecutor George Bird told the court Paxton drove to Franklin Square in central Hobart at 2.45am on July 10, 2005 armed with a chainsaw.
He cut almost completely through the tree's trunk before driving away.
Sergeant Bird said witnesses had captured the incident on mobile phone cameras and contacted police.
Hobart City Council had employed a tree surgeon, but the tree could not be saved and the subsequent removal operation had cost $10,450.
Police identified Paxton from a rambling note left at the scene and witness accounts and subsequently matched sawdust in his car and on a chainsaw at his parents' home with the tree, the court heard.
Defence lawyer Steve Chopping said Paxton had become angered after reading a Mercury article titled "Blacks in noisy call for land" the day before the offence.
From his own research he was aware Franklin Square has been used for public hangings, including that of aboriginal people.
He decided to cut down the tree because it represented the state's English heritage, he said.
"He decided to stage a protest. He did it at a time he'd consumed a large amount of alcohol," Mr Chopping told the court.
"This was a misplaced protest on the part of the defendant. It was not intended to be as serious as it became."
Magistrate Michael Hill convicted Paxton and fined him $500, plus court costs.
A police application for costs was adjourned.
The tree was believed to have been planted around 1875, possibly by Prince Alfred, Queen Victoria's second son and the first royal to visit Tasmania.

[wheelinround]

Just think if it costs that much for a medical opinon for a tree

Thumbsucker could have done it for board and lodging oh and the timber of course

[seriph1]

Speaking of "board" - I wonder how many board feet of spectacular timber has probably now been chipped by those other idiots who finished it off - bloody hell.....the WORLD has so few Elms left.... talk about misguided lunacy

[echnidna]

probably a big hollow trunk

[KevM]

probably a big hollow trunk

It was fine, no elm rot or whatever the disease is they get.

The Woodcraft Guild Tasmania put up a proposal to the Hobart City Council at the time to take the timber and make an heirloom item for the city but it was rejected.

The millable trunk was taken away and milled and racked out. Not sure of the current status of the timber though.

[wheelinround]

Shame they didn't do the same with all the Fig's they cut down in The Domain Sydney

[seriph1]

....and the 3 kilometres of Elms when the Eastern Freeway was built in Melbourne..... all less than 3 foot lengths ... State sanctioned environmental vandalism (I can't believe those words would ever come out of my mouth, but that's what it was)

[AlexS]

Usually hard to say anything nice about the NSW RTA, but at least the Sydney blue gums were recovered from the M2 and milled.

[wheelinround]

Wonder what will happen along Cowpastures Road when the last widening is done and Camden Valley Way all those lovely gums many with burls on them

[wayfarer]

Usually hard to say anything nice about the NSW RTA, but at least the Sydney blue gums were recovered from the M2 and milled.

Unlike CityRail who cut down and destroyed dozens of blue gum trees 40m high along the rail corridor between Hornsby and Thornleigh!

That tassie bloke should face prison in my opinion. What an a-hole for cutting down a grand old tree.