The Red Flowering Gum Tree

The Red Flowering Gum, is an evergreen, hardy Australian native tree with prolific, fiery red flowers in the Summer. The far reaching roots and extensive branches of one particular Red Flowering Gum are synonymous with the many stories that capture the life and times of Margaret and Frank Hawkins.

45 Diana Drive in 2019 with the feature tree still standing tall and proud today

It's New Year's Day 2019, a day set aside for a trip down memory lane with my parents Margaret and Frank Hawkins. The first stop was our home at 45 Diana Drive, Blackburn. Frank built two houses in the same street and in 1958, the newly married couple moved into their first home. Together they carefully planted a Red Flowering Gum seedling. Sixty years later, the tree is still standing tall and proud.

Since returning to live in Melbourne, the iconic Australian gumtrees with their eucalyptus scent remind me of my childhood.

Google Red Flowering Gum and some of the succinct descriptions embody the strengths of character of Margaret and Frank Hawkins, these include:

• evergreen (young at heart, reliable, supportive, always putting others first...)
• drought and frost tolerant (weathered the challenges life brings, resilient, flexible, resourceful..)
• grow in a wide variety of habitats (active social networks, adventures, travel, homes ..)
• tough and iconic Australian native (proud to be Australian with a rich tapestry of life stories)
• brilliant display of fiery red flowers throughout the Summer (particular to Frank as a redhead & especially as a footy player in his youth, all year round though!)
• grabs your attention in full flower (this applies more to Margaret who has an incredible sense of style and grace as well as grabbing attention as an avid instagrammer)

I have only touched on a few of the many outstanding personal qualities of Margaret and Frank Hawkins. Just as the new foliage constantly emerges (with a reddish tinge) on the Red Flowering Gum, numerous stories come to the fore that give insight into the lives of Margaret and Frank, their family and friends. Capturing and sharing such stories enable connections of the head and the heart; a chance to be enlightened and eternally grateful.

#grateful #family tree #livelifetothefullest #blessed