The beautiful spreading river red gum occurs along rivercourses throughout most of the Australian mainland. Like other eucalypts, it is a survivor in a land where floods follow droughts, and where the soils are low in nutrients. But when Europeans came they made drastic changes. They cleared away trees and altered the way rivers flowed. Through compelling verse and pastel illustrations this book tells the story of a particular river red gum and the changes it must have lived through. (Source: back cover)
Dedication: 'I dedicate this book to my land, Australia. It has nourished me throughout my life. I hope we can succeed in repairing the damage we have done so that it will continue nourishing my grandchildren and their grandchildren into the far distant future.'
Author's note: 'The book was written to celebrate on particular tree the author came upon once, growing beside the Wimmera River in Victoria.'
