gravestones

Opened circa 1872. St Mathew’s Anglican Church was founded in 1869 and completed in 1874, beside Rocklea (now Sherwood) Rd. The church and adjacent cemetery (beside Oxley Creek) were dedicated in 1874 but the cemetery’s earliest headstone is from 1872. The church burnt down on 27 September 1921 but the cemetery remained open. It has pioneers’ graves, a cremation columbarium wall and a lawn cemetery. It contains the (1902) Berry and MacFarlane Monument that is one of only two Boer War memorials in Brisbane. Source: mappingbrisbanehistory.com.au/history-location/st-matthew...

Brisbane April 25. In the bright sunshine and morning stillness, broken only by the soughing of the neighboring pines, the Cross of Sacrifice and Stone of Remembrance erected in TooWong cemetery to the memory of those who have made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War were unveiled this morning by the Governor-General (Lord Forster). The spectacle was a most impressive one, and worthy of the noble sacrifices it commemorated. Grouped round the Cross were the relatives of the heroic dead, a naval guard from the British cruiser Dragon, and representatives of the Returned Soldiers' League, while overlooking the site were headstones marking the resting places of some 350 departed heroes. An aeroplane whirred overhead, dropping a shower of floral tokens. Brisbane Citizens' Band played the majestic Beethoven. "Symphony" and the Dead March in "Saul." Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld), 26 April 1924. "Commemorating our beloved dead" said His Excellency " we turn to the Cross, the sign of Him through whose self-sacrifice they have passed through the vale into life immortal". His Excellency then quoted from a poem written in the early days of the war which was written by a friend in the House of Commons. 'O valiant hearts, who to your glory came Through dust of conflict and the battle flame Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.' The Brisbane Courier, 26th April 1924 Source: monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww1/display/9270...

Olai Fauske had a framed copy of this photo in his home: digitaltmuseum.no/011025152675/fotografi-i-ramme