A Big Tree and a Big Impact!
September 6th, 2011 | 
Author: Big Tree, Dip Falls & Dip River Forest Reserve
by Roger Findlay
A big tree: my personal story…
Up close and personal: Big Tree, Dip River Forest Reserve Tasmania
I am about to tell you of the time I first visited Tasmania and of the lasting impression that hit me in less than twelve hours on the island. We were travelling towards Smithton, not far from Stanley on the north west coast of Tasmania. It was a dark, and rainy afternoon but there was still time to catch a glimpse of our first big tree in the Dip River Forest Reserve near Mawbanna.
Dip Falls is an impressive waterfall in the Dip River Forest Reserve, and after visiting we took the short walk through the dripping canopy before arriving at the incredible Big Tree. This giant of the forest is an estimated 400 years old. It’s height has reduced to a mere 62 metres from a probable 90 metres plus. Around the tree is a platform so that the visitor can appreciate the 17 metre girth.
Dip Falls near the Big Tree, north west coast of Tasmania
I was looking at the top of this towering big tree and could feel the tears running down my cheeks. The emotion could only be from my fear of man cutting the giant down. Since that day, I have seen many similar trees and my emotions have always been the same.
Roger takes a good, hard look at the Big Tree!
This Land is My Land
Now don’t you start thinking that I’m an extremist! Yes, I have lots of Dylan, Baez and Seeger… but I’d never been on a protest march until one particular Saturday when the wife went shopping in Hobart!
This Land is My Land protest march in Hobart, Tasmania
Local gardening guru and TV presenter Peter Cundall was addressing a crowd of people outside Parliament House on the issues of logging in The Blue Tier and the Tarkine region. I found myself in agreement with what he was saying and joined the protest march through the city streets to the Forestry Tasmania building.
Peter Cundall addressing the peaceful rally in Hobart, Tasmania
Two young ladies dressed as ravens did their dance on the tray of the logging truck; forestry workers peacefully defended their position and I went to Knopwoods for a few pints of the best while reflecting on what I had done and who I was doing it for.
Performers dancing at This Land is My Land Protest Rally
Editor’s Note: we must say a big thank-you to Roger for
sharing his personal thoughts with us. We can show you photos of
spectacular Tasmanian wilderness and features like the Big Tree,
but it’s a very brave thing to express publicly in words exactly
how this land of Tasmania makes him feel. Well done!
Map of Big Tree, Dip River Forest Reserve Tasmania…
Related Posts
Posted in North West Coast, Tasmanian National Parks, Forests and Reserves, Tasmanian People | 
Tags: Events, Forestry, Maps, Tourism, Travel Destination, Waterfall, Wilderness
6 Responses to “A Big Tree and a Big Impact!”
Leave a Reply
I like this one. I am touched by how much the tree moved you, and that it was 400 years old. How precious.
As for the protest, it’s great you marched for what you believed in to save the environment (while Mum kept the economy afloat too)
Everyone doing their bit, in their own special way. Love it!!
Woah!!!! Have never been there…but is now on my bucket list! How awesome is that! Have seen the huge trees in South WA Karri trees I think they are. And yes, I too would hate to see them hacked down.
Hi Anita! Glad to be helping add to your bucket list. Let us know when you manage to get there, please!
Cheers, Tania
On the east side of Mount Murchison, there is a Gondwanaland of ancient trees where young trees grow on the old trunks. I discovered a Myrtle with a Sassafras tree growing on the root base that looked like a lady in the tree. The wetness of this forest is the necessary ingredients to the survival of this unique rainforest. If it gets clear felled it is predicted that it will take 65,000 years to become what it is today. We can not plant up a rainforest and see it develop in our life time.
Hello there.
All of these stories are my passion. I was born not far from Dip Falls, the edge of the Tarkine. I now live at Marrawah with a view from my window of Cape Grim , Green Point Beach and West to Nettle Bay, a wonderful place in this world.
My family introduced the Arthur River Cruise boat in 1984, the first eco tourism in the region, my father (known as Turk Porteus) was one of the last true bushman of the region with a focus on conservation and a lifetime passion for the preservation of the Tarkine. I will always follow his lead.
Cheers, Timi