The rosemary bush and flowers, photographed prior to the removal of the cross and bench, and before they were removed by an unknown person. PHOTO: Supplied
A GRIEVING mother has been left shocked and heartbroken after discovering her late son’s roadside memorial unexpectedly stripped bare of its mementos.
Cathy McAlpine, of Kersbrook, has been in the process of modifying the Gottwald Road memorial, at Williamstown, to bring it in line with council policy, but said an unknown person has also, unexpectedly, removed the remaining flowers, a rosemary plant and family letters.
The memorial is in honour of 33-year-old father of two John McAlpine, who died in a motorcycle accident at the site, in February.
“When I went out there I was absolutely devastated – there was nothing left,” Ms McAlpine said.
“I had a couple little solar flowers out there, my son’s kids had put a jar with an Easter bunny in it and some notes, and I had planted a rosemary bush.
“My son loved to cook with rosemary all the time – it was his favourite plant and I thought putting something like that in will blend with the countryside and won’t be out of place.”
The use of the site as a memorial has previously caused concern for nearby residents and users of the roadway.
In response, Mr McAlpine’s friends and family had removed a bench and a wooden cross from the site, with the intention of replacing them with a single smaller cross.
“When I saw the rosemary bush was gone it broke my heart,” Ms McAlpine said.
“I’ve had my granddaughters (aged 10 and 8) and we’ve gone out there because they wanted to go to ‘Daddy’s spot’ and it just broke their heart too – his oldest daughter just cried and said ‘why would someone do that Grandma?’”
Ms McAlpine has since replanted another rosemary bush, determined to not let her son’s memory fade and so his family can continue to have a place to go and feel at peace.
“Everyone keeps saying that’s what cemeteries are for, but the cemetery traumatises the girls because that’s the place they have seen their Dad get buried. Whereas out there it’s peaceful and they’re happy,” she said.
“If they ask me to take them out there I will and same with my other nieces and nephews; they were really close to John and they find it peaceful there too.
“If I was upset I’d go out there and walk away calm again; it’s just something about it that makes you feel calm.”
Ms McAlpine said she contacted Barossa Council and was told staff were unaware of the items’ removal.
