Susanna Freymark
Do you know where there is a dead tree or stump that would be suitable to be painted blue?
Councillor Olivia Taylor wants Kyogle Council to paint a non-living tree blue as part of the Blue Tree Project.
Ms Taylor said Randwick Council and Maitland Council had blue trees.
Councillor Tom Cooper showed a photo of a blue stump in a Tenterfield park.
The report presented to the council said that suicide remains the leading cause of death for boys and men aged 15 to 44 in Australia.
The blue tree or stump will have a plaque on it with information about where to seek help for mental health issues.
There are more than 1600 registered blue trees across Australia, initiated by the WA based Blue Tree Project.
The concept for the blue trees is to highlight awareness about suicide came from the project’s founder Kendall Whyte who started the initiative after losing her brother Jayden to suicide in 2018.
The very first blue tree came from a memory — Jayden had once painted a tree blue on their family’s property as a prank to surprise their dad. That memory became a symbol of hope.
It works on a simple curiosity and question – “Why is that tree blue?”
Initially the council staff had objections about the costs and finding a suitable tree and the dangers of an upright dead tree.
Council’s general manager Marcus Schintler said finding a stump would be easier.
Ms Taylor said Maitland Council had the paint sponsored by a local company thus reducing the cost of a blue tree.
In the report, the estimated cost for a blue tree was between $5000–$20,000 depending on the location and size of the tree, and whether a cherry picker was needed.
Because people would need to be able read the sign on the blue tree about suicide help, the tree needed to be on council land, not private land.
After the discussion, the meeting was more amenable to the idea.
There were examples of a blue sculpture or pole instead of a tree on the Blue Tree Project website.
Councillor Brett McNamara supported the project for Kyogle,
“As a (former) first responder, I’ve witnessed the ripple effect of suicide,” he said.
He told the story of when the was working near Canberra and a man was found deceased in his van at a national park.
“There were Christmas presents in the back and two child seats.”
The man was the only person in the van.
“If he had reached out. If only there had been a conversation starter,” Mr McNamara said.
“Prevention starts with a conversation.”
He asked – “Could the community help find a tree?”
Councillor Janet Wilson said a blue tree was not enough without a more comprehensive program about suicide awareness.
“Suicide is an emotional and difficult subject,” she said.
Ms Wilson said she would vote in favour of the blue tree despite its limitations.
The council is not the right provider for suicide programs, she said.
“Our job is to look for an appropriate service provider.”
All councillors present (Danielle Mulholland was absent) voted in favour of a blue tree for Kyogle
The next step is to find the tree. If you have any ideas let the council know.
HELPLINES
Lifeline — 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
13YARN — 13 92 76