Soldiers’ Un-Marked Graves Receive Headstones At Special Ceremony In Proserpine

Over 100 people attended the unveiling of headstones for un-marked soldiers at Proserpine’s Old Cemetery last Saturday 27th July.

Organiser of the event Lyn Burke said that Whitsunday Old Iron Restorers Car Club put flags and timber crosses up on the unrecognised soldiers’ gravesites every year.

This year, however, the community rallied together to give the soldiers proper headstones.

The Whitsunday Old Iron Restorers Car Club raised over $5000 for molds, concreting, and plaques and now the soldiers have the headstones they deserve.

Lyn said that it’s a relief to finally give the soldiers their headstones.

“One of them has been waiting 102 years for this and this is the crowning,” Lyn said.

“They all had military funerals and that’s where it ended, today we fixed that and now they have headstones like they should.”

Lyn expressed that she was emotional and also proud of her work.

“I can’t wait to send details to the War Memorial, especially about the one who's been here 102 years,” she said.

Proserpine RSL President Jason Rateri welcomed the service and said “Some of these graves have remained unmarked and the guys have lied here for over 100 years without any marker for their place of rest, it's a pretty sad indictment.”

“But I'm pleased to say that today that's been rectified,” he said.

Special guest Colonel Boniface Aruma enthusiastically praised the individuals involved in this special event.

“As you know, in the military, everything we do is team orientated. It's never about one person, he can't achieve the task set forth if you operate as an individual,” he said.

“I really don't have much to say this morning, apart from acknowledging those individuals that have gone behind the scenes to invest quality time and quality effort to realise this morning's occasion.

“Without your selfless effort behind the scenes, we would not be sitting here this morning to witness this very significant occasion to represent again those that have gone beyond us to lay down the sacrifice.”

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Whitsunday Old Iron Restorers Car Club raised $5000 for the new headstones
Jason Rateri, Colonel Boniface Aruma, Mayor Ry Collins, event organisers Lyn Burke and Lloyd Fox
New headstone unveiled

Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

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