Effort to save the big thumb

• Rotarian Rod Martin determined to save the big thumb.

By Tony Scott,
June 21, 2021

The big thumb that welcomes or farewells visitors to Scottsdale is in danger of rotting away and there’s a call out to save the statue’s form.

The thumb was moved to its King Street site by the Scottsdale Rotary Club after its original roadside position changed ownership.

It was carved from a fallen tree blocking the driveway of cabinet maker and wood craftsman Joshie Janoschka and rested at his gateway at Springfield for several years.

Since being moved it has become a popular subject for visitors’ holiday snaps with the picnic shelter and rolling hills as a backdrop.

However, the Rotary Club has detected the wood is rotting from the inside.

Club member Rod Martin is searching for ways to keep the feature intact.

“We think the best way will be to make a fibreglass mould, but finding someone to do that is proving tricky at the moment.

“But we definitely want to keep the big thumb.

“Other places have the big banana or the big pineapple.

“It’s not quite as big as those but is still a talking point and a great spot for a photograph,” Mr Martin said.