Monument to 'lost' graves

A MIX of tradition and technology will allow residents of Coulson, north of Boonah, to reconnect with their family's past.

Scenic Rim Mayor John Brent and Division 5 Councillor Kathy Bensted unveil the new monument at Coulson Cemetery. . Picture: Contributed

A MIX of tradition and technology will allow residents of Coulson, north of Boonah, to reconnect with their family's past.

The Scenic Rim Regional Council has erected a monument at the Coulson Cemetery to acknowledge those buried in unmarked graves in the grounds.

The sandstone monument was unveiled by mayor John Brent and area councillor Kathy Bensted.

Cr Brent said many graves were marked by wooden crosses that have since disappeared.

"Time has taken its toll on the wooden crosses and simple markers often used in the past," Cr Brent said

"As a result there are quite a number of gravesites within the cemetery for which council holds a record of the deceased's name, but the actual location of the grave is unidentified."

Coulson Cemetery, formerly known as Teviotville Cemetery, was established in 1886.

The cemetery was transferred to Boonah Shire Council in 1962 and is now the responsibility of Scenic Rim Regional Council.

"To avoid the risk of relatives or friends of those buried in an unmarked plot putting a lasting plaque or headstone onto the resting place of the wrong person, it became apparent there was a need to erect a single monument," Cr Brent said.

"The sandstone monument we have installed allows for the attachment of bronze memorial plaques, commissioned by descendents, relatives or friends of the deceased in unidentified graves within the cemetery.

"More than ever, people are seeking to make a connection with those who have gone before them," he said.

Similarly the Scenic Rim council has created a website to provide extracts of burial records at all council controlled cemeteries.

Cr Brent said the internet had made it easier than ever for families to trace their history, with records such as council's cemeteries database now available online.

"Council hopes the new search facility on its website will become a handy tool for people looking for deceased family members and those interested in genealogy," he said.

The website can be found by following the links from the Scenic Rim council's website scenicrim.qld.gov.au.

Originally published as Monument to 'lost' graves