Wednesday 22 April 2026
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Service lives on
DEDICATED members of the community have been working over recent months to highlight the importance of service and sacrifice by locals ahead of ANZAC Day 2026. Volunteer group The Friends of Margaret River Cemetery spent countless hours researching, creating and then marking graves and niche walls at Margaret River and Cowaramup in tribute to the local men and women who undertook military service. After a warm reception for their tributes last year, and ongoing work to improve the cemetery, the Friends this year stepped up their research. Pauline Graves took on the enormous task of compiling biographies for each of the marked graves, with service records and a little background on their lives. Pauline’s husband Brian Graves manufactured stakes from recycled timber to which the stories are attached. “It was a mammoth task this year as over 300 service personals are represented in the tribute, so thanks to those who offered their time to help out in some way,” Friends spokesperson Rachel Hassall said. The group was formed two years ago, to contribute to the Cemetery’s 50 year improvement plan. With a cohort of just four people, the Friends have
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Tributes have been placed upon graves and plaques at Margaret River and Cowaramup to honour our local servicemen and women ahead of ANZAC Day.
meetings with representatives from the Shire, to discuss changes to policies and improvements at the site. “We also regularly attend the cemetery to clean away any rubbish, dead flowers and weeds from the graves and the surrounding bush and report to the Shire if we see anything that needs their attention,” Rachel said. Community feedback has been positive on the back of the group’s ANZAC Day and International Stillbirth and Pregnancy Loss Day tributes, and Rachel said plans were underway for histories of local people at the cemetery to be installed with QR Codes. The tribute display will be available to view until April 30, after which time it will be removed and stored. “We hope to expand on the community engagement with other projects in the near future.”
RSL CALLS FOR HELP Margaret River RSL Sub Branch has launched a GoFundMe campaign to hon-
our the 20 servicemen and women who were buried in unmarked graves at Margaret River. Pauline Graves’ research work with the Friends of the Margaret River Cemetery noted the lack of headstones, plaques, or commemorations. A spokesperson said the Sub Branch was “shocked”. “They had nothing. Just a simple mound of dirt. “Nothing to indicate that they ever existed. Only an entry in the cemetery records to show who was there.” The discovery became the catalyst to mark those lonely graves with an appropriate recognition from the community. “We haven’t asked the government for funds - and we won’t. “We are asking our community to not be forgetful. “Let this be an opportunity to remember and respect those who came before us and who served their country. To find out more about the campaign and donate, visit gofund.me/1e5c1cd36
Members of the Cowaramup Tennis Club with representatives from local community groups Cowaramup Lions Club and the Cowaramup Hall Reserves and Residents Association Photo: Nicky Lefebvre
It’s long been known that Cowaramup people look after each other - and this story is no different, with a couple of local groups stepping in to help the Cowaramup Tennis Club return its courts to tip top condition, in an eyecatching brilliant shade of blue. Turn to Page 15 to read all about the project... (and how Pickleball is on its way to Cowie!)...