Lucky escape from falling eucalypt

Ripplebrook resident Loris Buckler received an almighty scare when a gum tree planted at her property 42 years ago came crashing down on her house last month.

The tree had carried extra significance for Loris, who received the seedlings as a wedding gift before moving to their Ripplebrook property 42 years ago.

Loris had just had lunch and was having a cup of tea in the kitchen when she heard an almighty bang and looked out the window to see the big gum tree falling.

Fortunately for Loris, she wasn’t hurt and damage to the house was minimal.

“We’ve got some roof damage and one window was taken out upstairs,” she said. “It was just a side branch that hit though. “If the trunk had of come down I don’t think I would be here talking to you.

“We’re really thankful, it could have been a lot worse.

“It came very close, the limbs were right against the house.

“There’s no material damage inside, so we are very fortunate.”

Loris said losing the tree had been a sad day, given it had created many memories.

“It was given to me by a work colleague after getting married and moving here,” she said.

“I remember days sitting in shade reading books in 40 degree heat while pregnant,” she said. “We had no air conditioning in those days. “There used to be a sandpit under it and there are a lot of memories of kids playing in the sandpit.

“That swing has been in my husbands’ family for more than 70 years, and it was totally unharmed. “It’s seen its way through many children.” Hugh Buckler said they were grateful for the efforts of the State Emergency Service for assisting with the clean up.

“A crew came out in the afternoon and then came back after 5pm to remove the stuff on the roof,” he said.

“It was extremely windy, and when they left here they had another job to go to.

“The SES deserve praise, 15 trees came down that day and they were awfully busy.”