South Australian Town Devastated by Theft of 84 Brass Grave Plaques
Residents of a small South Australian town have been left devastated and outraged following the discovery that dozens of brass plaques were stolen from graves in the local cemetery. The incident, which occurred in the town of Quorn, located approximately 39 kilometres northeast of Port Augusta, has shaken the close-knit community to its core.
Heartbreaking Discovery at Quorn Cemetery
Visitors to the Quorn town cemetery made the grim discovery on Friday morning, finding that around 84 brass memorial plaques had been forcibly removed. Local woman Kathy, who visited the site with her sister on Saturday, described the scene as utterly heartbreaking.
"Me and my sister came in to make sure our mum and dad were OK, and my husband as well, then I came across this," she said. "It's very heartbreaking. This shouldn't happen. Let the people be at rest."
Community Relief and Anger
Among those who rushed to check on loved ones' graves were Holly and her grandmother Yvonne. They experienced a moment of relief upon finding that the grave of Yvonne's deceased husband, Samuel, remained untouched.
"It's disgusting what people have done out here. I don't know how another person can do this to somebody," Holly expressed with clear anger. Yvonne added, "I'm very grateful that they haven't touched my husband's grave."
Overnight Theft for Monetary Gain
According to Flinders Ranges Council mayor Ken Anderson, the thieves executed their plan overnight, likely using tools such as a hammer, chisel, or battery-operated device to smash the plaques from their mountings.
"The ones around the memorial garden, nearly all of them are gone," Mayor Anderson reported. "The plaques are gone. They've damaged other ones, trying to get them off the headstones. They've removed some off headstones - big, small or medium-sized."
He emphasised that the theft was motivated by financial gain, noting that brass holds significant value in the recycling industry. "We're sure of that because they haven't touched anything else. They've just gone for the brass plaques," he explained.
Council Response and Investigation
The Flinders Ranges Council has been proactive in responding to the incident. A council member discovered the damage during an early morning walk on Friday, prompting immediate action. Staff spent much of the day contacting affected families using cemetery records.
Mayor Anderson condemned the act in strong terms: "The community is just devastated (that) some low-life (has) come and done this to line their own pockets. It is just the lowest of low. This is just a little bit beyond belief that somebody would do this with no care, thought, or concern for those around them."
He also mentioned that the council has reached out to recycling companies and individuals who deal with metals like brass and copper, hoping to trace the stolen items. "These things will probably be cut up, but they're still fairly identifiable and would take a while for someone to melt them down in a backyard," he noted.
Security Challenges and Next Steps
The Quorn cemetery, described as a secluded and peaceful spot for the small community, does not have CCTV surveillance, which may have facilitated the theft. However, officials are confident the incident occurred overnight based on the timing of the discovery.
Once all affected families have been notified, the council plans to move forward with repairing the graves and replacing the stolen plaques. South Australia Police have launched an investigation into the theft and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Authorities have asked the public to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if they have any details that could assist in the case.
