go

The Candle Ascent – into the Quiet World of the Koala

Tiago Miranda

Early morning in the Adelaide Hills, near Cudlee Creek – remember the summer bushfires, this area was smashed. Another day in the office for us; trees to climb and treat, aiming to convince clients about their benefits and what to expect from a beautiful candle bark gum (Eucalyptus rubida). When we arrived at the property, we saw that the family had transformed this block into a permaculture project: beehives and domestic animals arranged nicely in a free-range manner. Mark, the owner, was friendly enough to show us around. He loves animals and plants and despite his enthusiasm about the tree works, he warned me about the koalas up the candle bark gum. Interested as I am, I was curious to see if it was a mum and joey.

The tree was sparse with the canopy covering the whole carport and front veranda. Stunning. As climbers, we have to set up ropes from the ground. I managed to reach the top without exertion. The view is different from up there. We can feel the wind blowing through the canopy, birds singing closely and interacting in their flocks, insects flying around, and the bark - rough or powdery - gives texture to our hands. From a glimpse of a head turn, there they are. Soft and crouched in a hug. It reminded me of my mum and I, maybe a flashback of an early memory.