Lone Pine planted to commemorate ANZAC Day

The University of Southern Queensland's (USQ) Springfield campus will plant a descendant from the original Lone Pine tree at Gallipoli during its inaugural Dawn Service to commemorate ANZAC Day on 25 April 2008.

USQ Springfield Director Doug Fraser said the Lone Pine was the name given to a solitary tree on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey which marked the site of the Battle of Lone Pine in 1915.

'The original Lone Pine was the sole survivor of a group of trees that had been cut down by Turkish soldiers who had used the timber and branches to cover their trenches during the battle,' Mr Fraser said.

'The tree was obliterated as a result of the battle; however pine cones that remained attached to the cut branches over the trenches were retrieved by two Australian soldiers and brought home to Australia.

'Lance Corporal Benjamin Smith from the 3rd Battalion retrieved a cone from the battle site and sent it back to his mother (Mrs McMullen) in Australia, who had lost another son at the battle.

'She kept the cone for 13 years before planting seeds in 1928, from which two seedlings were raised.

'One was presented to her home town of Inverell, New South Wales and the other was forwarded to Canberra where it was planted by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester at the Australian War Memorial in October 1934. Today it stands over 20 metres in height.

'Since the 1980s many trees have been grown by both seed and grafting techniques from the tree at the Australian War Memorial. They have been presented to many organisations including RSL branches and clubs, schools and other interested organisations throughout Australia.

'The seedling we will plant at the service is a direct descendant from that original pine cone.'

Mr Fraser said the University was honoured to acquire one of the seedlings.

'ANZAC Day is probably Australia's most important national occasion.'

'It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. It is appropriate that we plant the seedling at our first Dawn Service.'

The USQ Dawn Service will be held on 25 April 2008 at 5.45am at the USQ Springfield main campus building and is open to the community.

Attendees are encouraged to wear service medals awarded to them personally or their forebears.

Media Contact: Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0428 102 979