Blue Tree with a festive twist

Anyone who has travelled the Boggabri Road knows that Blue Trees are not uncommon for the area.

Another has been added, (down Wandobah Road this time) – but with a festive twist.

Tim Ellis decorated a tree just outside of Gunnedah in blue Christmas tree lights and tinsel to remind people to check in with others during the holiday season.

When picking the tree, he looked up and down the Wandobah Road before coming across the perfect tree. He has whippersnipped around the area and trimmed the tree so it could be lit in blue lights before Christmas.

“It cost me bugger all, just my time, so that is the main thing,” he said.

“Instead of a painted tree, we have a blue Christmas tree.”

He has had his own fair share of tough times, especially with the recent hospitalisation of him and his wife.

He explained the events leading up to his wife, Bec, becoming unwell.

She came home from work with a headache in October and planned to take some Panadol and go to bed.

Tim couldn’t get a hold of her later that day, so their son and daughter went to check on her, only to find her wandering through the house.

Bec was suffering from a brain aneurysm.

“She is a lot better now and it is going to take a while,” Tim said.

Tim’s wishes for Bec to be home for Christmas have come true, as she was released from rehab earlier this week.

“While she was in the hospital, I had to have part of my left kidney cut out,” Tim said.

“I wasn’t going to do it but my son said, ‘no you have got to go’.”

From driving up to Newcastle for a visit, to feeding the dogs while they were away, Tim said that the support of the community was incredible.

“It’s good when people come and support you,” he said.

“Everyone has been so good since it happened.

“The support from the whole town was amazing.

“Gunnedah is a good town like that.”

The blue Christmas tree was the perfect opportunity to take Tim’s mind off of recent events and instead focus on sharing some joy – and a conversation starter.