Big Spotty, the world’s largest known Spotted Gum tree, is located in North Brooman State Forest on the New South Wales South Coast.
Patrick Anderson, who took these photos in September 2025, says: “This majestic tree is over 70 meters tall and is estimated to be more than 500 years old. It has become a symbol in a campaign to protect the surrounding forest from logging operations which threaten its long-term health and the habitat of local endangered species.”
Big Spotty. Photo: Patrick Anderson, used with permission
In this time of massive challenges to our future on this planet, to me Big Spotty is a symbol of the three dimensions of the massive transformation in which we are all players.
The three dimensions are:
- Holding Actions to stop the worst of the damage done by the Business as Usual path – everything we usually regard as campaigning.
- Life-sustaining systems and practices – rethinking the way we do things – finding a new path.
- A shift in consciousness – our connected self – deepening our sense of the forest being part of who I am and part of who you are, for example.
It seems to me that the people who have campaigned for years to save the south-west forests, while focusing on stopping the logging have also tuned in to a deep love of nature and a new awareness of connection with nature.
We honour everyone who contributes to making change through any of these approaches.
Read more about the three dimensions for change on The Work that Reconnects website https://workthatreconnects.org/dimensions-of-the-great-turning/
Feature photo credit: Patrick Anderson, used with permission
Mary Stringer
September 2025