Indira Naidoo's new book celebrates her life

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Indira Naidoo's new book celebrates her life

Indira Naidoo had walked past the Moreton Bay figs many times in Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden and Domain without giving them much thought.

That changed after her youngest sister Manika took her own life during Melbourne's darkest year of rolling COVID lockdowns in 2020.

Two weeks after the shocking news, Ms Naidoo was sitting on the lawn in the Domain with her head in her hands when she saw a sense of shimmery-ness around me and golden warmth. I opened my eyes, and all these branches belong to one tree, and I realized that all these branches belong to one tree, Ms Naidoo told ABC TV's Compass.

She was struck by its magic as she looked closer at the giant tree.

"Suddenly I thought there was something special here," said Ms Naidoo.

This tree is a special tree. This is a special place. The Moreton Bay fig where she returned to and over seeking solace is featured in her book, The Space Between the Stars.

Since the book's publication in April, hundreds of people have flocked to the same remarkable tree - many seeking comfort as they navigate their own grief.

Tracey Fitzpatrick has visited the tree, which is thought to date back to at least 1871, several times since reading Ms Naidoo's book.

She says it's a beautiful tree.

Ms Fitzpatrick has lost family members in the past 12 months.

She said that the book inspired me to look beyond my own inward grief and connect with nature and see how it helps me heal.

The demand from people wanting to visit and learn more about the tree has led to several tours of the tree by the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Fiona Jostsons brought her cousin Jennifer Vince from Melbourne to visit the tree.

Ms Jostsons said she was drawn to the tree's sense of calmness — that you can get through anything Moreton Bay figs are the signature tree of the botanic garden and the Domain, with the oldest remaining one planted in 1845.

Ms Naidoo formed a special connection with the boardwalk around it to protect its roots as it towers over the road that runs through the Domain.

Like a lot of old urban trees, it's lived a life and had to deal with all sorts of changes over time, says Paul Nicholson, senior horticulturist and volunteer manager at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

There are signs it has suffered some dieback, and a fire has been lit in one of its hollows.

On a hot day, Sydney's Moreton Bay figs have provided shade and a retreat from the busy city.

It is not uncommon for people to have special attachments to particular trees, according to Nicholson.

There is a tree that they'll always visit in the garden. He said that they might know the person who planted it.

Once Ms Naidoo noticed what was now known as her tree visiting, it became part of her daily routine.

Things started to show themselves to me, and that had always been there, but I had just been too busy or too silly to actually take it in, she said.

Watch the Compass episode Indira's Tree' on Sunday, August 14 at 6: 30 pm or on ABC iview.