Gum Trees'

justcruisin01 · Guru

Gum Trees'

exa41 · Guru

the problem with gum trees is usually in hot , windless weather . Gumtrees require wind to pump the sap around the limbs and if there is no wind the sap expands at a rate that literally blows the limb off. Being in the CFA we are always reminded to look up and protect your fellow fireys as you never know when one is to fall, hench the name widowmaker.

shekon · Guru

JC, I normally NEVER park under Gum Trees for that very reason. Although lived most of my life in the city, I am also a country girl and was married to a man who came off the land, so yes I know the reputation of the trees. I did park in an area surrounded by these trees this time as it was the allocated spot where the power has been put. I have to admit that I was nervous about being there.

What I did not know was the amount of dye that comes from the trees when it has been raining. That was my point. Still this is also something I should probably have thought about because I have seen the discolouration of rivers and creeks after heavy rains, and that is from the bark etc on the trees.

I have been lucky in the fact that the caretaker here has allowed me to stay on parked in the open on one of the ovals, and kindly ran the power from a shed for me. It is an idyllic spot and they are trying very hard to get through to the executive committee to change the power placing for the very reasons mentioned.

I thought it was worth mentioning the discoloration for those who were not familiar with this. Believe me I have berated myself enough over the mess that has been caused to Miss Daisy, for not speaking and asking earlier if there was a different spot.

Vic41 · Guru

This was one caravan fatality in WA from a falling tree, there have been others with tents as well, see;

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-29/perth-storms-thursday-morning/4397902

And another story, this time injuries by tent occupants;

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1995865/tree-falls-on-campers-at-crookhaven-heads/

There have also been a number of fatalities in Oz of people in tents due to falling trees.

This is an extract of a story I posted on another forum in 2009 about a falling tree in a CP;

"Murphies law being what it is, we were at a small caravan park behind the service station on one of the roads into Gin Gin (WA) and it was blowing a gale. The tall gum tree above us was swaying and bending, so decided to move to another bay which had a gum tree trunk cut off at about two metres high. There were some "new" branches growing up off the stump to a height of about 5 metres off the ground. I went to the shower block and when I came out my wife and a couple of friends (who had parked their van under a huge tree and stayed put) were laughing their heads off (knowing the trouble I had gone to move the van to safer area). One of the "new" branches had come down and partly landed on the rear roof of my X/Trail. Luckily the base of the branch had hit the ground first and then the upper growth had toppled onto the X/Trail roof rear, and apart from a few scratches on the roof. I was surprised at the weight of the branch and it took two of us to drag it off the vehicle."

dorian · Guru

The moron next door planted three gum trees next to his units to satisfy approval requirements by the local council. One of them fell on our fence, another had its trunk split in half by lightning, while the third cracked the brick wall of our granny flat. All of them have since been removed and no tree has been planted in their place, begging the question, is the owner now in contravention of the council's approval requirements and what was the point of it all in the first place?