Dr. Walker raises concerns about the potential impact of cemetery renewal on Private O'Meara's grave and seeks clarification on heritage listing for VC recipients' graves. The Minister assures that war graves are protected under a memorandum of understanding.

AnsweredQoN 227Legislative Council
Asked
20 March 2024
Portfolio
Local Government

QuestionView source ↗

METROPOLITAN CEMETERIES
BOARD — WAR GRAVES
227. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Local Government:
With
St Patrick's Day just behind us, I refer the minister to the grave of Private
Martin O'Meara from County Tipperary , who served with the 16 th Battalion and saw action from Gallipoli in 1915 through to Le Verguier in 1918.
Private O'Meara was awarded a Victoria Cross in August 1916 for
conspicuous bravery. I note that his grave is currently a highlight in the
Karrakatta walk trail.
(1) What specific
plans are there for Private O'Meara's grave, given that he is
buried under the site of what will likely become an above-ground mausoleum in
the near future as part of the so-called renewal process currently underway?
(2) What plans,
if any, are there to heritage list the graves of VC recipients in general, be
they in Karrakatta Cemetery or elsewhere across WA?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Local Government.
(1)–(2) The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board and the Office of
Australian War Graves signed a memorandum of understanding in 2008 to
specify the activities between the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board and the Office of Australian War Graves in relation to the
retention of World War I and World War II war graves and memorials in
cemeteries controlled and managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board. Since
the memorandum was signed, all official war grave monuments, including the
gravesite of the late Private Martin O'Meara, are retained in their
original grave position and are not affected by renewal programs or significant
building works at the relevant cemetery.

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