By Victoria Stone-Meadows
AN OLD cypress tree on the Tooradin foreshore is undergoing a transformation from a dangerous old tree to an impressive piece of artwork.
The tree was ruled dangerous by the City of Casey Council last year after it dropped a few limbs near the car park and picnic area in the last two or three years.
The Tooradin Foreshore Committee decided that the tree stump shouldn’t go to waste and contracted a chainsaw artist to turn the leftover stump into something special.
Chainsaw carving artists Brandon Kroon from Mount Evelyn was contracted to do the work and both the artist and the Foreshore Committee worked on a design to reflect the history of the area.
“The foreshore committee wanted something that reflected the strong fishing tradition of Tooradin,” Mr Kroon said.
“After a bit of back and forth we decided on a design that shows as old style fisherman battling with a snapper and a pelican among the waves.”
Foreshore committee secretary Ross Wilkie said the sculpture would bring more tourists to the Tooradin foreshore.
“It looks much better than the shabby tree that was here before,” he said.
“It’ll be a talking point for visitors to the foreshore.”
Mr Kroon has spent just seven days working on the sculpture and is aiming to have the artwork completed and weather sealed by Saturday 22 October.
