August 12, 2024
Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald has condemned the destruction of hundreds of gravestones at the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery on Friday night.
Headstones and monuments at the Heritage-listed cemetery in Harristown were toppled at the weekend, with many smashed.
“What occurred at Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery is simply disgraceful, disappointing and disgusting,” Mayor McDonald said.
“Such criminal acts of disrespect not only undermine the sanctity of a place meant for remembrance and reflection, but also inflict deep emotional pain on the families of those interred.
“Memorial headstones serve as a tribute to loved ones, and their destruction is an affront to the memories they represent.
“We believe this incident has occurred between 6:00pm on Friday, August 9, and 7:00am on Saturday, August 10.
“We urge anyone with information about the incident to come forward and report to Policelink 131-444 or anonymously through Crimestoppers 1800-333-000.”
Mayor McDonald said Council was doing a clean up and assessment of the damage.
“Council teams are initially focussed on making safe any structurally unsound monuments, compiling a list of damaged memorials and artefacts including photos, working with our software provider to determine the best way of tracking and recording information relevant to the damage and working with local stone masons on the best approach to managing on-site issues,” the Mayor said.
“Council will also, in time, attempt to contact rights holders and families of sites where damage has occurred. A catalogue of damaged sites will also be compiled on Council’s web site.
“At this time, rather than calling Council to ask about a loved one’s grave site, it is preferable that customers attend the cemetery in person to check on sites. It is asked though that they do not touch anything due to safety issues and also if the police require further follow up.”
UPDATE August 13:
Police have arrested three teenage boys in relation to the following wilful damage of gravesites in Toowoomba.
A 15-year-old Harristown boy, a 15-year-old Newtown boy and a 17-year-old Highfields boy have been dealt with under provisions of the Youth Justice Act.
