Pelican takes flight

Chainsaw carving artist Brandon Kroon with the pelican detail of his sculpture on the Tooradin Foreshore. 160864 Picture: VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS

By Victoria Stone-Meadows

MOUNT Evelyn chainsaw carving artist Brandon Kroon has transformed an old cypress tree on the Tooradin foreshore.
The City of Casey last year ruled the tree dangerous after it dropped limbs near the car park and picnic area over the past few years.
The Tooradin Foreshore Committee decided that the tree stump shouldn’t go to waste and contracted a chainsaw artist to turn the leftover stump into something special.
Mr Kroon was contracted to do the work.
Both the artist and the foreshore committee worked on a design to reflect the history of the area.
“The foreshore committee wanted something that reflected the strong fishing tradition of Tooradin,” Mr Kroon said.
“After a bit of back and forth, we decided on a design that shows an old-style fisherman battling with a snapper and a pelican among the waves.”
Mr Kroon spent just seven days working on the sculpture, which was completely weather-sealed last month.