A contingent of the Proserpine Scout Group and Girl Guides gathered to mark the beginning of ANZAC day commemorations on Easter Monday, with many local volunteers giving their time to place flags at over 400 graves sites which hold the bodies of local service men and women who fought in wars.
The Proserpine Cemetery, adorned with bright flowers and green lawns, was a colourful and peaceful place for the kind-hearted individuals to honour those that served in the armed forces and had since passed away.
One of these was fifth generation Scout, Ryan Penhallurick, a young man who attended with his mother Tracy and her parents to honour Ryan’s great-grandfather, Rusty Norman, who he affectionately called ‘Old Dad’.
Small plastic flags were placed at grave sites by roughly 30 volunteers which included children, relatives and Scout Leaders.
Lyn Burke and Lloyd Fox started the ritual six years ago and had been placing flags by themselves for four years before enlisting other volunteers two years prior.
Ahead of the annual event, the pair spend time mapping out the grave sites of ex-service men and women and share some history of each recipient with an attending relative where possible.
They have also spent four years conducting military history research of the region and wrote a book documenting their findings.
This year local indigenous soldier Patrick Brady, who resides in the Catholic section, will receive a Commonwealth War Grave and his relative was present to place a flag at his grave ahead of this significant moment.
The flags will stay in place for four weeks and present a cheerful, respectful vista for community members attending graves or driving by the cemetery.
Nine-year-old Ryan Penhallurick with his grand-parents Margaret and John
Representatives from Proserpine Scout Group and Girl Guides
