Retired stonemason carves headstones for unmarked graves at Whroo Cemetery

A RETIRED stonemason will give 173 children buried in unmarked graves at a country cemetery their identities back, carving headstones for tombs dating back to 1861.

Jim Deslandes with his Grandfather Charles Deslandes’ headstone. Picture: Mark Wilson

A RETIRED stonemason will give 173 children buried in unmarked graves at a country cemetery their identities back.

Jim Deslandes has begun carving headstones for tombs dating back to 1861 at Whroo Cemetery about 160km north of Melbourne.

None of the children have headstones while some, including stillborns, were laid to rest with strangers because their family could not afford burial costs.

Children's headstones with a list of names. Picture: Mark Wilson

“Back in those days, they virtually had nothing and were living in tents,” Mr Deslandes said.

The thought of children without headstones pulled at his heartstrings.

The 71-year-old, from Diamond Creek, said he also will make a plaque with the names of all the people interred at the cemetery, including adults, Chinese migrants and the children.

Descendants have raised almost $4000 to help with production costs, but Mr Deslandes needs more funding for the individual headstones.

He has spent more than $3000 on fuel alone in the past four year.

With the help of friends, and inmates from Dhurringile Prison, Mr Deslandes rebuilt a fence around the cemetery’s perimeter, installed new gates, planted oak trees, renumbered the plots and paid to restore the leather-bound burial book.

The book, which Mr Deslandes was able to access because he was part of the cemetery’s trust, has “beautiful copper plate writing” and a list of every deceased person.

“I’m doing this all for the cemetery,” he said.

“When the Civil War was on and Ned Kelly was running around, the cemetery was there and people were being buried in it. It’s amazing.”

To help Mr Deslandes, email [e-mail]