Son's tree of hope after surf tragedy
The tree stands just metres from the rugged exposed stretch of coast at south Cottesloe where windsurfers and kitesurfers dance on the water.
And for young Milo Sprod, 4, it is special.
It is Papa's tree.
It is a place where Milo and his mother Margo Malone remember her partner Marc Sprod, who died in a tragic kitesurfing accident almost a year ago.
The tree was decorated in an outpouring of love and support at Christmas, and this week a photograph of Mr Sprod was still fixed to the trunk and three golden hearts dangling from branches bounced around in the breeze.
Ms Malone said it was incredibly difficult to visit the place where Milo lost his father, but at the same time it was also part of a healing process.
"I can't look out there without thinking about him," she said.
"Marc lived for the beach, he loved kitesurfing, it was his absolute passion. He would always try and kitesurf every day.
"He was an experienced kitesurfer, he knew the risks. But it is just so overwhelming."
Strong wind gusts pushed Mr Sprod, 50, into the shore and before he could release his kite he was dragged up through the dunes.
Ms Malone said the trauma of the day remained with her.
"Such trauma, so devastating, traumatic for the people who were here, traumatic for the kitesurfers," she said.
"I can't bear to think about it.
"Milo always says, in fact he said this afternoon, 'You are not going to cry when we get to the tree are you?'
"I always have to say, 'I just can't promise that'.
"This is a place we used to come all the time and Marc would kitesurf and we would sit and play on the sand."
Ms Malone said Milo knew what had happened and she was determined to transform the area.
She wanted to make Papa's tree a tree of love.
That process had started not long after the tragedy.
"Milo wanted the tree to be decorated at Christmas time," Ms Malone said. "We were overwhelmed by the community spirit.
"A lot of people who walk past, and kitesurfers and windsurfers who come down, and friends of mine who live in the area came down and put decorations on the tree.
"Other people who had lost loved ones put their own tributes and own poems.
"Someone left lights and left a little note for Milo, some children had left a Christmas present for Milo, we still use that plate and that cup and he remembers he got it at Christmas from Papa's tree.
"It was so soon afterwards it was such a terrible time but it brought us a sense of joy and spirit which is what you need to experience at Christmas."
Ms Malone said the kitesurfing community had also been generous and set up a fund for Milo and she hoped a memorial service at the tree at 4pm tomorrow would continue the healing.
"Marc had a lot of friends from lots of periods in his life. I would like everybody to come together and show collectively, for Milo's sake mostly, that we still remember Marc and his spirit still lives in all of us, and reflect on the love they all had for Marc and Marc for his friends and family," she said.
"We are going to place love hearts on the tree . . . Milo has made his already."
Ms Malone said one of Mr Sprod's friends would say a few words, her son Dermot would sing and they would release balloons in the colours of Mr Sprod's favourite football team, Hawthorn.
Mr Sprod's family in Sydney had paid for a chair and plaque to be installed nearby, which would be unveiled in a private family ceremony later in the week.
Ms Malone said it was important to be honest with Milo.
"No one can replace Marc," she said. "Marc was his hero, he was larger than life, he was his Father Christmas every day."
Milo still has the love of a big family including an elder sister and three elder brothers, who adore him and looked after him.
And Ms Malone and Milo will continue in their own special way to remember his Papa.
"We look out for Papa's star every night and his cloud during the day, which one he is kitesurfing on," she said.
