Tree of Knowledge poisoned

JOINED by thousands around the country, Central West residents are still reeling after it was announced that the Tree of Knowledge’s recent decline in health is most likely due to poisoning.

Although test results have not been returned to the Barcaldine Shire Council at the time The Longreach Leader went to press, it would seem that a large volume of herbicide has been poured around the root system of the 200-year-old living icon.

"Circumstances suggest that it was poisoning, as shrubs around the base of the tree have died back," said Tony Raynor of the DPIF in Longreach.

"We’ve sent samples away of both foliage and soil and we expect to know the results on Friday (today)."

Pat Ogden of Barcaldine Shire Council originally contacted arborist Adam Tom of the DPIF in Brisbane after leaves at the top of the elderly ghost gum began to show signs of disease.

It was Mr Tom who suggested that the symptoms the tree was expressing were synonymous with that of poisoning.

Longreach Detective Sergeant Simon Palmer said the poisoning would have likely occured around the time of Barcaldine's May Day celebrations.

"We don’t know whether the posioning was deliberate or by accident, but once the results of the tests come back and we can identify the poisoning agent, we'll be able to narrow our search down.

"We're calling for anyone out there who may have some information regarding the tree to please come forward."

Although action has been taken to alleviate the effect of the poison from around the root system, most believe that the gum will now die.

"This is a tree tragedy, but we are certainly looking at the future," Mr Raynor commented.

"The Department is working with the Barcaldine Shire to propagate seedlings from a young clone at the Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre."

Known as the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party, in 1992 the heritage-listed tree underwent major pruning due to disease, during which time cuttings were taken to preserve the tree into the future.

If anyone has information which could be useful in police investigations, please contact Longreach CIB on 4658 2200.