IN a gesture of concern and hope, a band of Cohuna residents have transformed a tree on the Murray Valley Highway into an eye-catching symbol.
The tree, near the corner of Schwencke’s Road, 11km from Cohuna, is one of a row of dead box trees in a paddock on private property that is visible from the highway.
Cohuna community member Tanya Black said a few people had the idea to tap into the Blue Tree Project, a movement aimed at drawing attention to mental health problems which has seen dead trees painted in rural areas around the country.
“We did it for our farmers,” Ms Black said.
“With the dairy crisis, you feel a bit helpless.
“I think farmers know the community is supporting them, but we want them to know we’re thinking about them and to get people talking about the issues.”
The first blue tree was painted in 2014 in Western Australia in memory of a young man who committed suicide.
There are now hundreds of the trees in Australia, including at Charlton, Geelong, Wangaratta and Yarrawonga in Victoria.
Organisers said the idea was “to help spark difficult conversations and encourage people to speak up when battling mental health concerns”.
“By spreading the paint and spreading the message that it’s okay to not be okay, we can help break down the stigma that’s still largely attached to mental health.
Ms Black said she had been following the movement on social media.
“And Danielle Stanton, who is new to town, was talking about it, so we organised a crew to do it.”
With the blessing of landowners Stuart and Cecelia Palmer and some second-hand paint which was tinted for free by the Cohuna Mitre 10, the team went to work on Wednesday evening.
Ms Stanton, her son, Bryce, artist Lyndsey Quinlan, Kevin O’Toole and Tanya Black formed the work party.
“It was hard to paint,” Ms Black said.
“The tree was pretty dry and sucked the paint in.
“In the end we were just pouring it on.
“The top coat covered it well though.”
The group put a sign on the fence with mental health messages and contact numbers.
“We’re hoping to get a metal sign made and maybe put up some floodlights,” Ms Black said.
The tree has already attracted a lot of attention.
“Everyone’s talking about it,” Ms Black said.
“I think it’s something the towns all along the Murray River could do.
“Imagine having a Murray Darling Basin blue tree trail.”
