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Level of Significance

  • File
  • Local
  • Regional
  • State
  • National

Age

90yrs

Trees

1

Diameter

3m

Height - 14m

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1/9 images

Details

Common name
Monterey Cypress
Botanical name
Cupressus macrocarpa
Type
Individual Tree
Condition
Good
Municipality
Yankalilla (SA)
Location
Pages Flat Road Myponga SA 5202
Access
Unrestricted
Significances
  • Landscape (Social)
  • Park/Garden/Town (Historic)
  • Commemorative (Historic)
  • Event (Historic)
  • Person/Group/Institution (Historic)
Date of germination
12 Jul 1935
Date of measurement
26 Feb 2018
Date of classification
04 Apr 2018

Statement of Significance

The tree commemorates the contribution of Sister Amy Dorrington to the Myponga and broader Fluerieu Peninsula community during the 1930s, the high regard the community had for her and her role as a disctrict nurse, and their sadness at the loss of her life while on duty.

History

A cyprus pine was planted as a memorial & a plaque erected at the intersection of the Adelaide and Pages Flat roads on the outskirts of Myponga on July 12th 1935 for Sister A Dorrington, the District Nurse, who was killed in a vehicle accident while being driven to give aid to a snake bite victim at Tunkalilla. Unfortunately both the driver & Sister Dorrington were killed, but the snake-bite victim survived. The memorial was later shifted to the 'Tom Roberts' main street park, next to the bottom shop, due to constant vandalism.

Notes

References in early newspapers regarding this site refer to the planting of the nominated tree in 1935 (see Victor Harbor Times) and Arbor Day 1936 (The Argus). The Argus doesn't refer to planting of a Cypress pine, one of which can be seen in the image titled 'memorial to sister Dorrington Mrs Ortis' as was provided by Myponga Historical Society member Merylin McLaren (email Feb 2018 to T Johnson). It may be that this image records the 1936 Arbor Day planting ceremony, as the site of the Cypress pine appears relatively undisturbed. The planting of the Cypress pine in 1935 is closer to the date of the tragic death of Sister Dorrington, in whose memory it was planted. The plaque that was originally placed near the nominated tree was removed - image: Cupressus macrocarpa Myponga_4January2018 (4) shows the plinth to which it was attached - and it was relocated in a park in Myponga (shown in image titled: Plaque for Sr. Dorrington_Myponga_4January2018 (1)). Mr Peter Lawton, who was a primary school student during the early-mid 1930s, recalls the death of Sr Dorrington, the planting of the Cypress tree (purchased in Adelaide by his grandfather and transported to Myponga on the local bus service) and also his attendance at various arbor day events. Several of the images attached show Peter with the tree, taken in 2010.