A portly, pigeon-toed doctor in Geeveston, Tasmania

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Here is another of the beautiful wooden statues which we saw in the Tasmanian town of Geeveston. This depicts Dr Oswald Theodore Kyle who was born in 1911 and graduated in medicine as 1939. He began in private practice in Geeveston and soon after established the Bowmont Hospital in Franklin until 1965. During the war years he was the only medical officer for a large portion of the region. He worked tirelessly for improved public health facilities in the Huon district and was awarded an OBE for his services to the community. The notice at his feet doesn’t mention the timber used for his memorial but one of the other statues was carved from celerytop pine. This is endemic to Tasmania and has the taxonomic name of Phyllocladus aspleniifolius. The name comes for the appearance of the ‘leaves’ and it is widespread and very common particularly in the western highlands. It is a large conifer with horizontal branches. It is very popular with furniture makers and wooden boat builders as it has a straight grain and a dense, golden brown colour. It is hard and strong, very durable but bends well, ideal for fine furniture and cabinet work. It’s also used for railway sleepers, flooring and ship masts. It is slow growing and needs constant moisture so it hasn’t gained a lot of popularity among gardeners. But don’t you just love the portly little doctor with the slightly pigeon-toed stance?