While it may not be every grey nomad’s cup of tea, the fact is that ‘decorated’ trees are almost as much a part of the Outback driving experience as red dirt and termite mounds.
There are bra trees, thong trees, teddy bear trees, bike trees, hat trees, toilet trees and pretty much every other type of bizarre hanging-object-trees you could imagine.
So, what is behind this bizarre phenomenon? John Malouff, an associate professor from the University of New England’s (UNE) school of psychology, told the Grey Nomads there was an element of ‘copycat’ behaviour once someone had hung the original object.
“In psychology, we call the process observational learning or modelling,” he said. “Modelling is how we learn to do many things, from blowing our nose to handling an irate customer.”
Professor Malouf said he considers the tree displays art.
“People who see the display can interpret it as they want,” he said. “If the display leads to useful thoughts, behaviour, or emotions in others, the creator has succeeded.”
Historian Nichole Overall spent time investigating the origins of these unique trees. She looked, in particular, at a heavily-decorated Teddy tree on the Kings Highway near Canberra which began ‘sprouting’ some four decades ago, with the reason behind it lost in the mists of time.
Ms Overall concluded the likeliest explanation was a single bear originally attached to a tree to mark a road accident … and it spread from there.
“The inspiration behind many of the modern instances are often known: whether it’s a remembrance for someone who died of cancer, or the blue trees throughout regional landscapes painted to bring awareness to mental health and self-harm,” she said. “Such unusual monuments can also become quite the tourist attraction.”
So, is this a uniquely Australian behaviour? Not according to UNE’s Professor Malouf. “But Australians may do more of it, just as Australians have more ‘big’ things, like the Big Banana and the Big Guitar,” he said. “This is a country of creative individuals who have a sense of humour.”
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Providing the actual tree etc isn’t damaged I see no problem. It’s quite entertaining seeing various themed trees on a long trip plus it give us an opportunity to stretch the legs & take a pic