Cemeteries are great places to learn about defining moments that have shaped a local community.
First explore a small part of the Port Fairy cemetery and then investigate other cemeteries. Find out what gravestones can tell us about important events or defining moments that have affected people in different communities.
How to use
Visiting the Port Fairy Cemetery
Use your mouse, keyboard or touch screen to explore the virtual reality cemetery. Click the markers to view more information. You can also explore the cemetery using compatible VR goggles!
The Matterport help button in the bottom right of the screen provides additional information on how to use VR goggles.
Select the ‘Show Questions’ button to show your activity worksheet.
If you complete the worksheet online you can print your answers once completed.
Visiting other local cemeteries
In this activity your main task is to look at the sets of headstones and decide whether they are evidence of defining moments occurring in local communities.
Use the ‘Notes’ button for additional information and the ‘Transcript’ button for a text version of the gravestone.
At the end of this activity you will see your summary answer sheet.
Did this community...
Explore part of the cemetery and click on the marked graves. Read the inscriptions and see if you can answer these questions. You may not be able to find details to answer all of them.
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Visiting other local cemeteries
Now look at some headstones from other local community cemeteries around Australia.
Your job is to find out if the 9 defining moments listed in the table occurred in one or more of these communities.
After looking at each row of headstones, click Yes if you think they do, or No if you think they don’t. Then choose one headstone for each row that best supports your decision. Be ready to discuss your ideas at the end of the activity.
You can also open the notes to see some additional information.
Possible Defining Moments:
War, especially World War 1
Natural disaster (epidemic)
Mining accidents and disasters
Human disaster - Railway
Irish immigration – nineteenth century
European immigration – twentieth century
Bushranger attacks
Indigenous conflict
Childhood mortality
Visiting other local cemeteries
Do these gravestones show evidence of:
Transcript...
1
"I am the Resurrection and the Life"
In Memory of
JOHN ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL
of Dungalear Station, N.S.W.
Son of DONALD CAMPBELL
(of Glengower)
Who died at Toorak
on the 9th December 1916
Aged 62 years
And of
JANE, his wife
Who died 25th February 1939
Aged 80 years
Also of
DONALD GORDON CAMPBELL
2nd Lieut. 51st Batt. A.I.F.
Who enlisted in the 11th Batt. and was at the landing at Gallipoli.
Killed in action at Mouquet Farm on the 3rd Sept. 1916 aged 31 years
Also of
WALTER STANLEY CAMPBELL M.C.
2nd Lieut London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers.)
Killed in action at Les Boeufs on the 7th Oct. 1916
Aged 28 years.
Sons of the above whose bodies lie in France.
On another face of this memorial is an inscription to the son of John Alan and Beatrice Campbell:
DONALD GORDON CAMPBELL, Pilot Officer R.A.A.F, Killed in air operations over New Guinea, February 17th 1945 aged 20 years. Buried at Lae.
2
In grateful remembrance of ANNIE WHITELAW
Died 5th April 1927
Aged 64 years
The mother of six sons who served in the Great War 1914-1919
Four of whom BOB, KEN, IVAN and ANGUS paid the supreme sacrifice
"Happy is she who can die with the thought that in the hour of her country`s greatest need she gave her utmost." (Conan Doyle)
Erected by the Maffra Repatriation Com.
What is this headstone saying about a mother’s role in a war?
3
In Memory of
Sarah Oliver
Who died 25th July 1916
Also
In Loving memory of
ROY C TOLMIE
Dearly loved son of J. and A. Tolmie
Who was killed at Gallipoli
25th April 1915
Aged 25 years
Our loved boy
What is the significance of the date of Roy Tolmie’s death?
4
In loving and honoured memory of
RONALD GUY LARKING M.C.
Captain, Royal Engineers.
Dear loved son of
Richard James & Ethel Maud Larking
Born 9th Sept 1890, killed in a motor bicycle accident at Neuve Eglise, Flanders 1st April 1918, buried at the military cemetery of
Trois Arbres, near Steenwerck, Flanders. He enlisted as a Corporal in the Despatch Riders’ Corps R.E 7th August 1914.
Landed in France 15th August 1914, and was in the retreat from Mons. He received his commission in the field 27th Sept 1914, was awarded the Military Cross at Pozieres 2nd August 1916, and the Bar to the M.C. at Messines, 27th June 1917, both for gallantry while attached to the A.I.F. as Signals’ Officer.
The Royal Engineers was part of the British Army. The AIF is the Australian Imperial Force, the Australian Army in World War 1. Flanders is in Belgium.
5
In Loving Memory of
[Sister] ALICE MCGUINNESS
Who bravely gave her life nursing influenza patients
Eldest daughter
W&A McGuinness
Died 10-2-19
The influenza epidemic of 1919 (the ‘Spanish Flu) killed about 15,000 people in Australia.
6
In Loving Memory of
Our dear brother,
WILLIAM GLEN,
Died 3rd May 1919
Aged 26 years
Also his beloved wife
STELLA
Died 29th April 1919
These were husband and wife. They had two daughters, aged 2 and 1. We do not know what happened to the two girls.
7
In Loving Remembrance of
Flight Sergeant
FREDERICK P. MOORE
No. 1 Squadron A.F.C
Dearly loved husband of Lillian Moore
Loving father of Agnes
Died May 2nd 1919
Aged 29 years
Duty Nobly Done
Life is not measured by length of years
But sacred service and noble deeds
He contracted influenza a week after returning from the war, and died 7 days later.
8
In Loving Memory of
THOMAS COUPER
Dearly loved husband of
ELIZABETH THOMAS
Who died 22nd December 1907
Through an accident at the Duke of Wellington mine
Aged 42 years
Gone but not forgotten
Erected by his sorrowing wife and family
Why would mining be dangerous? Would you expect that there was more than one disaster of this type?
9
In memory of
RICHARD REED
Killed by a fall of earth at the Albion Quartz mine on the 9th September, 1867
Why would mining be dangerous? Would you expect that there was more than one disaster of this type?
10
In loving memory of
GEORGE WILKIE McCALL
Dearly loved eldest son of George Taylor & Alice McCall
Who was killed in the Sunshine Railway Accident 20th April 1908,
Aged 24 years 8 months
The call was sudden, but found him ready.
Also FLORA
Dearly loved second daughter
Who fell asleep 20th April 1918
Aged 26 years, 8 months
Also JOHN NEWTON
Loved third son who died in infancy
Also the above
ALICE McCALL
Who died 9th Feby 1933
Aged 71 years
Also the above
GEORGE TAYLOR McCALL
Died 14th March 1934
Aged 77 years
The Sunshine railway disaster was the worst railway accidents in Australian history, with 44 people killed and over 400 people injured.
11
In loving memory of
JAMES OLIVE DANNOCK
Aged 49 years
MARIA MURPHY
Aged 20 years
Killed at Sunshine 20th April 1908
CHARLES E Died March 1890 aged 1 year
MARY
Beloved wife of JAMES
Died 15th December 1949, aged 88 years
URINA
Died 2nd Dec 1956, aged 65.
The Sunshine railway disaster was the worst railway accident in Australian history, with 44 people killed and over 400 people injured.
12
In loving memory of
ETHEL MAY GREENE
Killed in the Sunshine Disaster
20th April 1908 aged 18 years
Death to her no warning gave
But quickly took her to her grave
Make haste to Christ, make no delay
For no one knows their dying day.
The Sunshine railway disaster was the worst railway accident in Australian history, with 44 people killed and over 400 people injured.
13
Erected by his fellow countrymen
In memory of
CORNELIUS O’MAHONY
Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland
Released political prisoner
Died 5 March 1879
Aged 41 years
R.I.P.
Thousands of Irish convicts were transported to Australia. Most were sent for crimes against property (theft). Some were sent for opposing the British control of Ireland.
14
ANNIE TEMPLE
An Irish Famine orphan
Daughter of Mary & James
1830-1891
Wife of Henry
Mother of 10 children
MARY JANE BYFORD
Daughter of Annie & Henry
1856-1917
Thomas McDonald
Husband of Mary Jane
1854-1897
Much loved by her family, valued by her descendants
Never to be forgotten
The Irish famine of the 1840s killed thousands. Many orphans were placed in workhouses. Between 1848 and 1850 4000 orphan girls were sent to Australia.
15
Here lies JOHN DENIS GLEESON
Born Tipperary 1842
Arrived in Australia aged 2 years
Died Crossley 1880
Known as “Kelpie Jack” Gleeson
Founder of the breed of Australian sheep dog the ‘Kelpie’
The kelpie is recognised as an iconic Australian breed of dog.
16
Michael Dawson
Born at
Round House, Co Kildare,
Died at
Phoenix Park, Brunswick, near Melbourne
1st June 1875
Aged 63 years,
Immitet Angelus Domini in circuitu timentium,
Et eripiet eos*.
Also of his wife
Emma
Who died at 'Dawsonhurst', Hawksburn,
24th May 1891,
Aged 66 years.
Also of
Clara Dawson
Daughter of the above.
Who died May 17th 1864, aged 2 weeks.
Also of
Laurence Egan
of Monkstown, Dublin,
Who died at Melbourne 17th March 1889, aged 41 years.
R.I.P
* The Angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear Him, and shall deliver them
Qui riposa
Pierino Di Marco
N. 29.5.1911, Fossa, L'Aquila
M 7.11.1984
Dona, O Signore, all'estinta
La luce e la pace del tuo regno.
Lasciando nel dolore figli e
familiari.
R.I.P. **
Qui riposa
Pia Di Marco
Nata il 23.11.1908,
Morta il 27.10.1981
Iodio te conceda il riposo eterno;
A noi il ricordo del tuo cuore
Buono ed affettuoso.
Lascia nel dolore
Marito, figli e famiglie
R.I.P ***
Qui riposa
Maria Generosa
Giacomantonio
Nata il 20.10.1873
Morta il 2.3.1954
Ti ricordo con affetto e amore
Figli e famiglie
R.I.P ****
**
Give O Lord to the dead
The light and peace of your kingdom.
Leaving behind sorrowing children and family.
***
Give to her eternal rest;
To us the memory of a good
and affectionate heart.
Leaving behind a sorrowing
husband, children and family.
****
You are remembered with affection and love
By your children and family.
What does this tell us about significant nineteenth century immigration sources compared to significant twentieth century immigration sources?
17
In loving memory of
MARY KATHERINE STELLA
1925-2012
Born Gallico, Italy
Loved and Remembered
GIO BATTA STELLA
1913-2002
Born Asiago, Italy
Loved and Remembered
Wife Mary and sons Valentino and Leo
Rest in Peace
How does this show post-war migration from Italy?
18
THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS SCHEME IS RECOGNISED AS ONE OF THE SEVEN ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE MODERN WORLD. IT IS ALSO RECOGNISED AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF MULTICULTURALISM IN AUSTRALIA. OVER 60,000 PEOPLE FROM OVER 30 COUNTRIES, TOGETHER WITH OVER 40,000 AUSTRALIANS, PARTICIPATED IN CONSTRUCTING THE SCHEME BETWEEN 1949 AND 1974.
A memorial to the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electricity Scheme where 121 people lost their lives. Why would Australia have wanted migrants from Europe after World War 2? Why would many Europeans have wanted to come to Australia after the war?
19
Here lies
DICK
Bushranger
Feb 12th, 1859
Shot by Police.
Did he deserve this?
It was 12 February 1859 and the local constabulary had heard two bushrangers were approaching the town. Constable Wigmore came face to face with the alleged bushrangers. After some questioning, he attempted to arrest them and warned them he would shoot if they continued walking toward the town’s centre. One of the men refused and produced a pistol and Constable Wigmore felt he had no choice but to follow through with his warning and he shot the man.
20
ERECTED by the Parliament of Victoria
to the Memory of
Police - Sergeant
MICHAEL KENNEDY
Native Of Westmeath, Ireland
Aged 36 years
Who was Cruelly Murdered By Armed Criminals
in the Wombat Ranges near Mansfield on the 26th October, 1878.
He died in the service of his country of which he was an ornament, highly respected by all good citizens, and a terror to evildoers.
This was the time when Ned Kelly was on the run. Could Kelly have shot Kennedy?
21
ERECTED by the Parliament of Victoria
to the Memory of
Mounted Constable
MICHAEL SCANLAN
Native of Kerry, Ireland
Aged 35 years
Who, in the execution of duty
Was murdered by armed criminals
In the Wombat Ranges, near Mansfield
On the 26th October, 1878.
This was the time when Ned Kelly was on the run. Could Kelly have shot Scanlan?
22
In memory of the Wirrayaraay people who were murdered on the slopes of the ridge in an unprovoked but premeditated act in the late afternoon of 10 June, 1893
Erected on 10 June 2000 by a group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians in an act of reconciliation, and in acknowledgement of the truth of our shared history.
We remember them
Ngiyani Winangay Ganunga.
At least 28 Aboriginal people – men, women and children – were killed by Europeans at Myall Creek in northern NSW
23
1840
1883
In memory of the Aborigines of this District.
Here lies the body of the Chief Wombeetch Puyuun and last of the local tribes
This monument was erected by a local European settler, James Dawson.
His description of Wombeetch Puyuun as the ‘last’ of the local Indigenous people is not accurate. Local Indigenous people and culture are strong in the community today.
24
This stone was erected by a few colonists
To commemorate the noble act of the native chief DERRIMUT who by timely information given October 1835 to the first colonists Messrs Fawkner, Lancey, Evans, Henry Batman and their dependants saved them from massacre, planned by some of the up-country tribes of Aborigines.
Derrimut closed his mortal career in the Benevolent Asylum, May 28th 1864; aged about 54 Years
Does this show conflict between Indigenous people and the settlers of the area, co-operation between them, or both?
25
In Loving memory of
Our dear son
MICHAEL SHANLEY
Died August 21st 1899
Aged 37 years.
Also
CATHERINE
Died March 21st 1888
Aged 23 years.
BRIDGET
Died July 25th 1874
Aged 17 years.
ANNIE
Died June 15th 1861.
Aged 2 years.
Rest in Peace
And of their mother
ELLEN SHANLEY
Who died June 19th 1916.
Aged 86 years
Erected by their loving parents.
How does this headstone emphasise the young age of the dead?
26
In loving memory of
HONORA
The beloved wife of
JAMES McCORMICK
Who died November 25th 1885
Aged 39 years.
Also her children
MICHAEL
Died Feb 11th 1876 aged 12 months
JOHN WILLIAM
Died July 7th 1881 aged 4 months
ESTHER MARY
Died June 28th 1884 aged 15 months
CORNELIUS
Died November 2 1885 aged 3 days
JOSEPH
Died Dec 6th 1885 aged 1 month
And the beloved husband of the above
JAMES McCORMICK
Died Novr 6th 1890, Aged 46 years
Native of London, England
R.I.P.
How many children of this family died before the age of two?
27
CHRISTINA MAY HAMILTON
Our little May.
Born 16th May 1875
Died 17th Feb 1879
“Suffer little children to come unto me”
What does the inscription mean? What does it tell us about the attitude of the parents to their daughter’s death?
28
BRENNAN
Thomas Patrick 6 weeks D. 7.4.1867
Michael 6 Days D. 2.9.1872
Joseph 9 Weeks D. 15.3.1874
Mary Jane 2 Years D. 4.1.1877
SIBLINGS OF
Edward 1864-1927
Charles 1868-1938
John Patrick -1870
Beloved children of
Edward Brennan and Winifred nee Murray
REMEMBERED
This is a modern headstone. Why might people today create a memorial to family members of the past?
