GRAVES OF SOLDIERS ARE NOT TO BE DISRESPECTED VOICE THEIR LOVED ONES

Karrakatha Cemetry, Perth Credit: Facebook

BY ASAD KHAN

The graves of soldiers in Karrakata cemetery Perth are to be demolished under the cemetery renewal program, under the Act after 25 years headstones no longer have protection on them.

Cemetery renewal was legislated by the Western Australian Parliament in 1986.

The graves will be allegedly demolished to make way for a walkway and there are fears by soldiers' loved ones that the walkways will be made over unmarked graves of fallen heroes with headstones demolished and remains untouched.

Carolyn Higgin Triggwell, daughter of a World WAR 2 War Veteran, runs a Facebook page called ‘Saving Family Headstones at Karrakatta’ which has 6,200 Facebook followers voicing against the destruction of graves.

She said it's “despicable” that this is happening to soldiers who sacrificed themselves to serve the country.

“Back in 2007 land was put aside in which be for a new Cemetry, The title was sent passed to the Metropolitan Cemetery Board to build a new Cemetery, but nothing has happened,

“yet they continue to clear Karrakatta Cemetery, I'm not talking about headstones here or there I'm talking about mass cemetery clearance,” she said.

Ms Trigwell said on ANZAC day all the politicians will stand with their hands on their hearts and thank all the soldiers and servicemen for their sacrifice yet turn a blind eye to the removal of graves and headstones.

Metropolitan Cemetry Boards has said on their website “Our team cares about the dignity of every grave. At no time is there any disturbance to the remains interred within existing graves”.

However, it has been reported by WAtoday , two sisters aged in their 80s took flowers to the grave of their grandmother Ellen Johnson in 2016, only to find her headstone had disappeared.