This is one of many projects submitted to our summer project exercise in Len’s Club. Members had a month to work on a project on the subject of ‘themes and variations’. Here Russell Spence has selected a subject close to his heart for his project as you can see by his sensitive approach.

Here are Russell’s words to accompany his images:

“The RIver Red Gum, or Eucalyptus Camaldulensis is ubiquitous in the Australian landscape, growing along old, and even very dry watercourses. Individual trees can be up to 1,000 years old and are called the Karra by the Kaurna indigenous community from around Adelaide, and Beal by the Wurundjeri from the Melbourne area. These images of Beal all show their individual personalities, some trees stand tall and defiant, others have experienced hard times but reach out with renewed vigor and others hover over lost companions.

The Aboriginal people used the RIver Red Gum as marker trees, to show a burial and ceremonial site, a birthing tree, tribal boundaries, important features, and for the songlines of each tribe.

Over time as I have visited these trees and sat beneath them I wonder who has been before, were these branches bent down for a shelter, is that curved branch a marker, was that bark stripped for a shield or bark canoe?

They are becoming my friends, some aloof, some protective, but always welcoming and ready to take me into their branches. It’s a pity we have not, and still do not, treat them with the respect they warrant and deserve.”

Thank you, Russell, for sharing your your project that has such a beautiful sentiment to it.

To see more of Russell’s work you can visit his website: www.russellspence.net

Photographs published with permission. Photograph copyright © Russell Spence 2022

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