The tragic story behind tree painted blue in barren outback
The touching story of a lone tree injecting colour into a barren, drought-stricken region has taken a sad turn after it was discovered it has been burnt down.
The tree in Dirranbandi, in Queensland’s southwest, had been painted blue last year as part of the Blue Tree Project to raise awareness for mental health.
The ABC reports the initiative came about as a tribute to Jayden Whyte, a 29-year-old who died by suicide in November 2018, the same day he tried to seek help for his mental health.
A story at his funeral revealed Jayden had pranked his father by painting a tree blue on their family farm in Mukinbudin in Western Australia in 2014.
Locals posted pictures of the blue tree in Dirranbandi on Facebook in October, saying “it really stands out in its current environment”.
“Should be more of them,” one said on Facebook at the time.
But months after it was painted blue the tree has been burnt down, deflating locals who took comfort in the simple gesture.
A local hairdresser posted about her disappointment that the tree was gone last Friday.
“My Dirranbandi commute was looking a little different this morning, someone burnt down the blue tree overnight, what is actually wrong with some people?” she wrote.
Other locals were also disappointed by the revelation the tree had been destroyed.
“We have been so moved by the blue trees throughout the west, so sorry to hear about this violation,” one commented.
“So crappy about the tree,” another said.
“Really! So disappointing,” a third responded.
Trees have been transformed in NSW, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, and has even reached as far as Europe, the UK, the US and New Zealand.
More than 400 trees in total have been painted so far.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
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