On one of my random walks through the Adelaide suburbs today I came across Bob - not his real name but it will do for now. He was applying glitter to a ‘tree’ in his front yard. Some years ago the tree had died but Bob had given it new life by carving all manner of creatures from its trunk and branches. There is a goanna, snake, crocodile and eagle. There is even an elephant and an alien creature as well as representations of a bushfire. Bob has spent over 1,000 hours carving, painting and applying glitter to this resurrected tree.
In speaking to Bob it became clear that in giving new life to the tree, Bob’s life had also, to some extent, been resurrected. Forced to retire from work as a machinist, Bob now works on his garden giving pleasure to his grandchildren, anyone who walks by and, most importantly, to himself.
