Yarra Junction resident and blacksmith Grant Morris will be contributing a leaf to The Tree Project. 31888
By Monique Ebrington
BLACKSMITH workers are heading to the Upper Yarra this month to forge a message of hope for Strathewen.
Blacksmiths from around the world are working towards creating a stainless steel tree with copper and stainless steel leaves.
Residents are invited to come and watch local blacksmiths create their leaves using the facilities at the Upper Yarra Museum on Sunday 21 June from 10am to 4pm.
Wesburn resident and blacksmith Dale Russell said that Strathewen was selected for the tree as they were the only bushfire affected area that wasn’t getting any memorial funding. Mr Russell said the idea was suggested on a blacksmiths’ internet forum and snowballed from there.
He said Qantas was now sponsoring deliveries of leaves from across Europe and the United States.
Yarra Junction resident and blacksmith Grant Morris would be contributing to the tree and said he was looking forward to working on his leaf and the tree he thinks will be a symbol of life.
“For me this tree will be one way to contribute some part of who I am and in some part to share the pain with people,” he said.
“Blacksmithing is quite arduous, quite physical and there are risk elements to it. I’ll be thinking about that when I make my leaf.”
“I hope the tree is a sign of life for the community and shows a lot of people connecting to rebuild the community.”
While the general public cannot create their own leaf, sponsorship of leaves is available.
A stainless steel leaf will cost $20 to sponsor and a copper leaf $40 and both come with the option of having a name engraved onto the leaf.
For more information on The Tree Project please visit the Australian Blacksmith Association of Victoria’s website on www.abavic.org.au
