Half a tonne of red gum: how the Eagle landed at Hatherleigh

Every club has a symbol. At Hatherleigh it stands more than two metres tall, weighs around half a tonne, and has been watching over the ground from the front of the clubrooms since 2021.

The carved red gum eagle has become one of the first things visitors notice at the Hatherleigh Sport and Recreation Centre. It stands with its wings raised and its talons gripping a carved red gum base. For a club known as the Mighty Flying Eagles, nothing could suit the place better.

Carved in Millicent

The eagle was carved by local artist Ant, as he is affectionately known, of Ant's Redgum Gallery in Millicent. Every feather in those raised wings was carved by hand.

Four local backers

In March 2021 the eagle was bought for the club through the generosity of four local backers:

• Jase and Amy of eSmart Electrical
• Matt and Kaz of Bowman Earthmovers
• Stef Pulmer of 3MP
• Fiona Telfer of South East Property Sales and Management

The big lift

Moving half a tonne of carved timber took more than a few strong arms. The eagle came out of Ant's gallery on the forks of a forklift and onto the back of a Bowman Earthmovers tipper. It was strapped down for the trip, with its wings still spread above the cab.

On the way it called in on all four backers. It stopped outside South East Property in town and at the Bowman Earthmovers yard. At eSmart Electrical, Jase climbed up on the tray beside it and gave it the thumbs up. At 3MP, Stef Pulmer and Maddie lined up beside the truck for a photo.

Pride of place

Today the eagle stands front and centre of the Hatherleigh complex, beside the clubroom verandah and the grandstand seats, keeping watch over the oval. It's there for every home game, every training night and every premiership photo.

Thank you to Jase and Amy, Matt and Kaz, Stef and Fiona for giving the Eagles an eagle, and to Ant for carving it.