Lysiphyllum hookeri — A Tale from Outback Queensland
Author: Donald Lawie, Cairns Branch
Published: Journal December 2022
On the 29th of March 1904, 24 year old Nellie Ryan died of a lung disease, in a tiny Gulf Outback town named Almaden. Nellie suffered from phthisis and was returning to her Georgetown home after seeking medical help in Townsville. She booked into the Railway Hotel at Almaden – about 100km west of Mareeba. The proprietor was a Mrs Wieland who saw that Nellie was seriously ill and did all that she could for her, but it was too late and Nellie died.
Nellie was buried in the Almaden cemetery and the entire population of Almaden, saddened that a visitor had died in their town, attended the funeral.
Nellie’s family erected an imposing headstone and grave surround; the headstone had a sentimental verse which concluded, “You will never be forgotten while your grave is marked by that white-flowering tree”.
Fast forward 118 years: A light train called the Savannahlander is the life blood of the far flung settlements of the Gulf Hinterland. The train takes passengers and two such were Marion Lawie and her father Donald, who overnighted in the Railway Hotel at Almaden. They went for a walk and found themselves in the cemetery where they read Nellie’s family message.
Gravestone of Nelli Ryan
The small cemetery had only a small grove of Ironbark trees with no White Flowering Tree visible. Marion and Donald, a Life Member of the Cairns Branch of the Society for Growing Australian Plants, discussed what tree it was that had marked Nellie’s grave. It would need to be locally native to cope with the harsh Outback climate without ongoing care, whiteflowered, and not too big.
Marion and Donald continued with the Savannahlander journey next day and the answer to the tree problem was awaiting them in Mount Surprise’s main street a Lysiphyllum hookeri in full flower. The white flowers were offset by vivid scarlet stamens and it was just the thing to mark Nellie’s grave. Seeds were gathered and Donald propagated them after returning home.
Unfortunately, the young seedlings all died, perhaps from over watering. Undeterred, he contacted Bethlea Bell, Native Plants Queensland seed bank manager, and obtained a supply of Lysiphyllum hookeri seeds. This time the young treelings grew well and after a year were big enough to plant out. Donald and Marion could have simply planted the trees and walked away, but they wanted the world to know of the promise to Nellie by her
family.
First approach was to Mareeba Shire Council to apply for permission to plant a Lysiphyllum tree in Almaden Cemetery. Permission was granted, so Marion and Donald asked the Mareeba Shire Mayor, Cr Angela Toppins, to plant the tree. This was granted “with pleasure”.
From there, the plan grew. A tree was to be planted in the old school yard – now a van park, in the hotel garden, and at the Almaden Railway Station by various local dignitaries.
Wednesday, 28 September 2022 was the Planting for 'Nellie Day'. The Mareeba Express newspaper gave us good publicity and a number of Nellie’s great great nieces and nephews attended and took part in the planting. Mayor Angela won the hearts of all as she planted the first tree with a golden shovel loaned by the Mayor of Cairns. Wil Kemp, the Savannahlander train driver, volunteered to water and care for the trees on his twice weekly journeys through Almaden.
Wil has since discovered that one of the Lysiphyllum hookeri trees has been attacked by rabbits so he is moving to put a wire cage around all the 'Nellie' trees. We expect to see white flowers at about this time next year.
“It was all so much more successful than we hoped. The family promise to Nellie is maintained – and all thanks to the Seed Bank of Native Plants Queensland and the diligent officer-in-charge, Bethlea Bell.”
Mayor, Donald and Ryan relatives at the Cemetery