Save Ashmore Trees

Here's a new online petition from the Friends of Erskineville to save the stand of trees at the corner of Mitchell Rd and Ashmore St:

https://www.change.org/p/save-ashmore-trees http://chn.ge/1OvoqcV

200+ signatures update:

Thank you to all supporters so far. This campaign has far exceeded our expectations only a few days in.

Thanks in particular to Jan Flanagan who brought to our attention a poem about the local fig trees by Hal Alexander. Hal was a long time resident of the Erskineville Estate and played an important role in saving it in 2002. Sadly Hal died just this last December.

Here is Hal's poem:

I AM A TREE

YOU CAN CALL ME FIGGY 
I AM THE LONGEST LIVING TENANT 
ON THE ERKO ESTATE. 
I’VE SEEN SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE COME AND GO.

I AM HOME TO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF 
OZ BIRDS, INSECTS, SPIDERS 
AND OTHER LOVELY 
CREEPIES AND CRAWLIES. 
MY OTHER TREE FAMILY MEMBERS HERE 
ARE NESTS FOR OTHER FEATHERED FRIENDS 
AND THEIR FRIENDS. 
SORRY IF THEY SHIT ON YOUR CARS 
AND MY FRUIT AND LEAVES LEAVE A MESS. 
NONE OF US ARE PERFECT.

I’M TELLING YOU THIS BECAUSE 
‘THEY’ HAVE JUST GIVEN ME
THE KISS OF DEATH, LIKE YOU, 
AS YOU SEE FROM THE ORANGE MARK 
OF EXECUTION ON MY BELLY.

NO TRIAL - NOT EVEN BY MY PEERS. 
WHO ARE THESE ALIENS? HAVE THEY NO CONSCIENCE?

SO IT SEEMS WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
YOU HAVE NURTURED ME AND VICE VERSA.

FAIR GO AUSTRALIA

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In other news, there was a photo shoot down at the figs in preparation for an article in the Inner West Courier. Councillor Linda Scott and Jenny Leong MLA were there to show support. Stay tuned, more to come soon.