Thornlie's tree man Richard Pennicuik woke in fright last night when an Australian flag attached to the tree he lives in was set on fire.
Mr Pennicuik said at about 2am this morning three men in a four-wheel-drive pulled up and set the flag in the 30-year-old gum tree on fire.
"They were yelling my name, 'Tree Man, Tree Man', when they drove up," Mr Pennicuik said.
"Because of the dark I couldn't see who it was so I've got no idea who they were but it seems obvious it was a pre-planned attack."
He said a 17-year-old male who was asleep under the tree alerted him to the fire and was able to put it out.
Mr Pennicuik was not rattled by the incident.
"If the tree caught on fire I would have to jump out but it hasn't bothered me," he said.
But he was sad because the flag represented his fight for freedom of choice.
"It's a joke, people don't value anything," he said.
"It is a symbol of who we are and it represents what I am fighting for, for freedom of choice and my choice is to fight for the environment."
He was not sure whether he would replace the flag, which his wife bought for him a month ago.
Mr Pennicuik, 57, has been camped in the tree in his front yard to protest against a City of Gosnells tree-cutting program since early December.
He said police have been alerted to the incident but there was not much chance of catching the offenders as he did not have details of the vehicle or the suspects.as posted here
