At dawn, the gums appeared a cool shadowy blue. I watched as the sun struck and slowly crept down the tree. Before long, the fog had dissipated and light enveloped the scene, the magic was over.
Mutawintji, in outback New South Wales has seen its fair share of land degradation and cultural destruction. To me at least, this tree living beside a canyon wall symbolises resilience in the land and a hope for the future.
The Black Spur is often foggy, but the combination of light and atmosphere needs just the right balance to deliver rays this spectacular.
I had been walking through the Black Spur when I spotted a deer hiding in the trees just a few meters away. It’s deafening call broke the silence and startled me. When I turned around again, the blue-gray morning had transformed and I suddenly felt about three inches tall, an incredible moment.
Snow gums, scattered boulders and fresh air; my childhood memories of Lake Mountain. Unfortunately this area is still recovering from the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and will remain forever changed.
