“Jesus Lives” message visible from sky on Adelaide Hills property
The words “Jesus Lives” are clearly visible from planes overhead on an Adelaide Hills property.
Retired environmental scientist Brendan Lay, 67, says the message made of 1000 trees has taken decades for the trees to become mature enough to spell out the words.
He and wife Elizabeth, 58, planted the unique tree formation on their 38ha property at Harrogate before their wedding in the 1970s.
“It interested us a bit that when you fly over the landscape, you don’t see any signage but when you’re on the ground, you’re bombarded with it everywhere,” Mr Lay said.
The couple would visit the Uniting Church regularly and decided to make the phrase “Jesus Lives” visible from the sky.
“We thought a Christian message was as good as any so we put ‘Jesus Lives’ up there — to us, it was a good message,” he said.
But it was not an easy process to get the message on the hillside.
Native trees such as pines, blue gums and local wattle were among up to 15 different species of trees planted in the formation.
“For many years, the message did not show up,” Mr Lay, a former SA Pastoral Board scientist, said.
“It has taken a long time for the trees to become big enough for the message to become obvious.
Mr Lay said the message is directly under the flight path between Adelaide and eastern cities, Melbourne and Sydney.
“A lot of people have seen it, if you’re looking in the right place,” he said.
“It’s as visible as it ever will be.”
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