21 February 2018

Hawker outrage: Fingers pointed at Government after Tom cut down in prime

| Ian Bushnell
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The perpetrator removing ‘Tom’. Photo: Screen grab from Olive at Hawker CCTV.

A mixture of outrage and grief has gripped Hawker Shops after their popular resident tomato bush fell foul of the ACT Government.

Restaurant Olive at Hawker posted a video on Facebook showing the thriving bush, dubbed Tom the Tomato, being unceremoniously ripped out by a ghostbuster lookalike.

“It is with great sadness that we write to inform you that Tom The Tomato was ripped out and killed by the ACT Government. We only ask WHY??? How can someone do this to poor Tom. You will be truly missed by all RIP”.

The post prompted a flurry of responses expressing grief, anger and loss at the cutting down of young Tom in his prime, and questioning the Government’s priorities.

Dimitri Yianoulakis posted “Which minister looks after weed spraying in Canberra? I think it’s time to rally time for a petition. This is an outrage.”

Theodore Leonidas Merkoureas was “Devastated”, while Elise Ewing said “RIP Tom” and asked “Will there be a memorial service?”

Others wondered what poor Tom had done to deserve such treatment, noting the young weedster’s zeal, and pointed to plenty of other targets more worthy of attention.

Briony Young wished “this bloke would come and do something about the blackberry bush that’s growing on the other side of my fence, that I continuously complain about. He seems more thorough than the other workers… “

Lyn McDonald also wished they sprayed where it was actually needed.

A very healthy ‘Tom The Tomato’ prior to the incident. Photo: Supplied.

Jan Casey laid blame where it should, at the feet of the ACT Government. “If only they could look after the ‘real’ issues within the ACT there would be less complaints (at least from me) – seriously it was a plant doing totally no harm to anyone – get our agenda in order ACT Government!”

Vale Tom.

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Ben Fairhall9:48 am 08 Apr 18

If only I could post the photo’s of the weeds lining the nature strip alongside the newly unopened shops at Coombs..

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