The Gum Tree – 1917.

It was primarily a small band of foresters that fought hard behind the scenes to save Victoria’s remaining native forests from settlement and clearing and they were often publicly criticised as opponents of development.

The foresters maintained a low public profile, partly because they often worked within the Public Service which forced them to remain anonymous and impartial. They chose instead to express their views internally within the corridors and meeting rooms of their departments and not engage in fractious public debates.

Even after the formation of the independent Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) in 1919, the powerful Lands Department continued to sell valuable forested Crown land and the foresters remained frustrated at the lack of progress of forest reservation, adoption of sound forestry principles and forest conservation.

The Australian Forestry League (AFL) was proposed at the first Interstate Forestry Conference held at Sydney in 1911 and officially formed at the following meeting in Melbourne in 1912. Membership included several prominent foresters such as the Victorian Conservator, Hugh Robert Mackay, along with some influential Melbourne businessmen and scientists.

The inaugural President was notable botanist, Professor Alfred James Ewart from Melbourne University, who also oversaw the curriculum at the Victorian School of Forestry.

The League included other big names like forestry benefactor, industrialist and philanthropist Sir Russell Grimwade.

Undoubtedly, the patronage of the powerful Australian Natives Association (ANA), which was formed in Melbourne in 1871, gave the Forest League much of its political influence.

The League was able to publicly advocate for the forest conservation and the promotion of “a forest conscience” which became a fashionable, and enduring, appeal associated with the organisation.

The League’s 1917 constitution called for “the advancement of educational and legislative measures and the encouragement of individual effort tending to ensure the maintenance, extension and renewal of the forests of Australia”.

For almost four decades from 1917 to 1955 the League produced the very conservative, but very informative, Gum Tree magazine.

The League received valued support from Governor-General Sir Ronald Munro-Ferguson during the war years over political meddling in forest management, securing adequate funding, reducing waste, expanding softwood plantations and addressing growing international concern at impending timber shortages.

In 1921, the Empire Forestry Association (EFA) was formed under royal charter, with the direct patronage of the king and the Prince of Wales.

Morris Carver from the Forests Commission was made the honorary secretary of the Association.

The objectives of the Australian Forest League and Empire Association were clearly in parallel and President of the AFL Russell Grimwade, was appointed vice president of the EFA 1932.

Forests Commission stalwart, and big tree specialist, Alfred Douglas Hardy, remained an active member of the Australian Forestry League and contributor to the Gum Tree for many decades.

The Gum Tree later became the official magazine of the Federation of Victorian Walking Clubs and the League of Tree Lovers.

https://www.victoriasforestryheritage.org.au/community/save-the-forests/420-the-gum-tree.html