‘This is bullsh*t’: Fury at ‘targeted’ desecration of Cairns graves
Authorities have responded to calls for increased cemetery security following the ‘targeted’ desecration of about 20 Torres Strait Islander graves. How council will tackle the issue.
Cairns
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AUTHORITIES will consider installing temporary mobile cameras on-site at the Martyn Street Cemetery following a targeted attack on Torres Strait Islander graves.
On Tuesday about 20 graves were damaged, vandalised or graffitied.
Cairns Regional Council workers on Thursday morning moved in to clean up broken glass and pots, and tidy the affected sites.
“Families are also being notified of damage or graffiti to headstones,” a council spokeswoman said.
“Vandalism is uncommon in the cemetery but, in light of the latest incident, Council is considering installing temporary mobile cameras on-site.
“Council is also in the process of reviewing operations and strategies for all of our cemeteries, which includes consultation.
“Council is also in the process of reviewing operations and strategies for all of our cemeteries, which includes consultation. An improvement plan will be developed for each of our cemeteries after the review, accommodating feedback and best practice.”
EARLIER
Angry Cairns families disgusted by the recent desecration of Torres Strait Islander graves have called for the beefing up of security at the Martyn Street Cemetery.
On Tuesday night a handful of tombstones were defaced and vases smashed in an attack that is being investigated by Cairns Regional Council.
Allegations have surfaced that a stolen car was seen in the area at the time of the attack amid an escalation of a feud between Torres Strait Islander families.
Bernard Namok, whose relatives’ graves were trashed expressed disgust at the vandalism.
“I was sick in the stomach that people are capable of doing that,” he said.
“I just felt sorry for the families. Those things cost a lot of money and people have worked tirelessly to come up with the payment for the loved ones, I have no words.”
Niece of an elder laid to rest at the cemetery, who asked not to be named, said the attack was the epitome of disrespect.
“They have gone to a lot of effort to actually vandalise specific graves,” she said.
“Old girl Mosby, her grave was written all over it and there was another one that had all the vases smashed.”
Vandals have taken to marble headstones with a paint pen to scribble out an image of the late Ms Mosby and the words “going (to) hell.”
Other graves had crucifixes knocked over and vases broken.
Vandalism at cemeteries has been an ongoing issue throughout the Far North.
The most recent incident dated back to May this year when 40 graves were attacked at the Atherton Rockley Road Cemetery.
In 2019 relatives of loved ones interned at the Parramatta Park’s Pioneer Cemetery were “horrified” to learn itinerants had been passing out drunk on tombstones and burying booze in graves.
And in 2017 the graves of 40 infants were damaged at Mount Sheridan Cemetery after a car tore through the graveyard.
The enraged family member pleaded for something to be done to allow relatives to rest peacefully.
“Why do we still have to protect them?” she said.
“Why should we hide this, we are sick of it. This is bullsh*t.
“Why not put in a bloody fence, we have paid for graves there. We have paid for my father’s grave and he is not even dead yet.
“They can put cameras in there, they should. We will put a petition together and rally people to have that installed.”
Cairns Regional Council has been contacted for comment.
Originally published as ‘This is bullsh*t’: Fury at ‘targeted’ desecration of Cairns graves
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