These large fig trees, estimated to be well over 200 years old, stand right next door to the Qld government headquarters in the Mary Valley, yet were not included in the report sent to Peter Garrett for his approval of the Mary River dam proposal. Their roots extend at least 300 metres to the Mary River, where they stand immediately behind the proposed dam wall, at the forefront of the area which would be inundated. Gary Blyton, who runs beef cattle on the property, withstood threats to push the trees over for a road into the would-be “dam zone” when the dam was first announced. Now they stand guard like sentinels at the forefront of the battle to save the endangered Mary River and its valley.