Swaying Tree -

Spending long hours at the top of a swaying tree on long hot summer days watching for fire outbreaks was not the most pleasant job in the world but the tower men* could earn several times their usual weekly wage so there were plenty of takers for the jobs.

* Incidentally, the term tower men was used regardless of the sex of the person on watch in the cabin and there were a number of women who did the job.

One anecdote regarding the lonely nature of working in a lookout is told about the Boorara tree.

When Assistant Forester, Jim Lovelock drove up to the tree, he noticed a lady’s bicycle at the base. There were sounds of distant laughter from the lookout and the tree seemed to be swaying somewhat more than was usual.

Jim entered the hut below and used the telephone to ring the cabin high above. Jim waited for the phone to be picked up and then said in a stern voice: ‘This is to remind you that your job is to look for fire, not play with it!”

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