Ipswich community petition name change of Finn Martland’s resting place

An Ipswich-area community in shock at the sudden passing of a popular young local man, just weeks before his first child was due to be born, is pushing for Council to honour his memory.

A petition is being circulated online to change the name of Finn Martland’s resting place. Picture: Supplied.

Tributes have flowed in for a young Ipswich-area man who passed away suddenly on the weekend, with the community starting a petition to change the name of his final resting place to honour his memory.

Friends have also set up a Gofundme for Rosewood’s Finn Martland, 20, who passed away only weeks before the expected birth of his first child.

Those who knew him said he was a kind and loving man with an infectious spirit whose death had shocked and saddened the community.

His partner Hayley, who was expecting the birth of their first child at the end of August, shared her grief on social media.

“Time will not dim the face I love, the voice I heard each day, the many things you did for me in your own special way,” she said.

“All my life I’ll miss you, as the years come and go, but in my heart I’ll keep you because I love you so.

Finn Martland’s passing has saddened the Rosewood community. Picture: Supplied.

“Words cannot describe how much I miss and ache for you.

“You showed me a love that is truly rare and special.

“Your loving, caring, kind soul will live on through our son.

“I promise he will always know who his dad is.

“I’ll take care of things here at home now my love. Rest in love my sweet boy”.

Friends and family gathered at Masons Gully on Albert St in Rosewood, where Finn was found, to share their grief and pay respects.

Friends and family have gathered at Masons Gully to honour Finn’s memory. Picture: Supplied.

Isabella Tanner, a friend of Finn and his partner, started a Change.org petition to rename Masons Gully to Finn’s Gully to honour the young man.

“It will always be a place that people will know where Finn is,” Ms Tanner said.

“His family think that it’s very important for all of his family and friends to have somewhere to be able to go to and remember Finn, somewhere that’s not just where he’s buried.

“They really want to try and rename the gully after him.

“We think it would just be that little bit extra special if we can, even if it’s not the entirety of it, because we do realise it goes a long way through Rosewood.

“Even if it is just the specific spot on Albert St, it will be really special”.

Masons gully was the subject of a proposal in 2009 to name it after a pioneering family in the region.

A spokesperson from the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) said in 2009 that although the geographical feature was known locally as Masons Gully, it was not officially recorded in the Queensland Place Names Gazetteer.

The petition has attracted more than 1500 signatures in under three days.

Finn and his mother Charlotte. Picture: Supplied

Tammy Hand, who signed the petition, said “Finn was a beautiful human” who “deserves this honour to be remembered by his family, friends and community”.

Kylie Lynch, who also signed the petition, said: “Our family loved Finn and we are so terribly saddened. The world has lost another beautiful young man”.

A fundraiser has also been organised on GoFundMe by his aunty, Jessica Dewar, to help his partner pay for costs associated with their unborn child, as well as his family’s funeral costs.

Ms Dewar said it was overwhelming how many people had responded to the fundraiser, with more than $20,000 raised so far.

“We are all in shock at the sudden passing of Finn; son, brother, cousin, uncle, grandson and was going to be a doting dad in eight weeks,” Ms Dewar said.

Friends and family have written messages on canvases at Masons Gully. Picture: Supplied.

“All of us are in shock as to why he decided to go.

“I’m fundraising as an aunty, for the family and for what was to be his future family, to cover funeral costs and help everyone move through what is a dark time in our lives”.

A memorial has been established at the spot Finn’s body was found, with crowds of friends and family sharing their grief.

“Finn has a lot of people that are all grieving. So many people have been down to the gully,” Ms Tanner said.

“We have put up a few canvas for people to write messages to Finn and we are up to our third canvas”.

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