Manning Hospital’s iconic Queensland Hoop Pine Tree has been brought back to life in the form of a coffee table, which is being donated back to the hospital on 18 August at 10am.

The pine was removed in 2007 to make way for the construction of the new emergency department.

It was planted back in the 1920s and was well known as the town’s Christmas tree, being decorated with lights each December.

Now thanks to Manning-Great Lakes Woodworkers, wood from the historic pine was taken when the tree was cut down and has been turned into a coffee table.

President of the Manning-Great Lakes Woodworkers Graham Coles said donating the tree back to the community means its history and sentimental value will be remembered.

“It was a very contentious issue at the time, cutting down the tree, so this just lets people know that the tree wasn’t burnt and just thrown out,” said Mr Coles.

One dedicated woodworker has spent approximately 18 working hours working to craft the coffee table.

And Mr Coles said the coffee table wasn’t the only piece of furniture Manning Hospital is likely to receive.

“We would like to produce a display cabinet for the hospital, so they can put some items in it which they have nowhere to store at the moment,” Mr Coles said.

The Manning-Great Lakes Woodworkers have also donated some of the wood from the tree to local schools for students to use in woodwork classes and they have also made products for other local charities including Wingham Rotary Club.

“The tree meant a lot to the local people, so the whole aim of this project was to give some of that history back to the community,” said Mr Coles.

Manning Hospital General Manager Tim Mooney thanked the woodworkers for their kind donation.

“Many people in Taree and the surrounding districts have many memories of the tree and visiting the hospital or being a patient.”

“Thank you to the Manning-Great Lakes Woodworkers for ensuring that we now have a permanent reminder of the tree at the hospital,” Mr Mooney said.

Contact: Tanya Carlyle, Communication Officer

Phone: (02) 49 392 602