Community
10 December, 2024
Rail tragedy recalled
MORE than 100 years after he died, a fitting grave for railway fireman Evan Whiting was unveiled at Cairns cemetery last Saturday.
Mr Whiting was just 22 when he, along with engine driver Thomas Duignan, 28, were killed at Kuranda.
His new $7000 grave and headstone, paid for by the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees, was unveiled by his great niece Linda Bristow, union state secretary Mick McKitrick and president Anthony Woodward.
Previously his body was interred in an unmarked grave and his new burial site is now next to Mr Duignan’s plot which was freshly cleaned and painted as were the graves of guard James Patrick Foley, who survived the crash but lived a painful life until his death at age 60, and Kuranda station master, the late Bert Wickham, who played a vital role in the rescue mission.
Steam engine No. 298 derailed and crashed into a rock embankment near the Barron River Falls, on a curve at high speed 106 years ago on November 25, 1918.
The engine crashed on its left-hand side, causing serious damage and the boiler to break. All on board suffered horrific steam burns and serious injuries at the time of the derailment.
Historian Michael Musumeci, who has been researching the tragedy, organised the new grave, the memorial service and a replica model of the steam engine, built by Ken Edge Williams and complete with original coal from the crash site.
About 50 people, some from interstate, gathered for the 90 minute ceremony on Saturday morning, which also involved speeches by Ms Bristow, Mr Duignan’s granddaughter Eleanor Duignan and great-great nephew of Mr Foley, Jason Foley.
Division 1 councillor Brett Moller, Mr Wickham’s grandson Bob Wickham as well as Cairns RSL president Nathan Shingles and Mr McKitrick also spoke. The ode was recited and The Last Post was played by Lloyd Mais of the Royal Australian Navy. Following the grave unveiling there was a dedicated two minutes of silence, wreaths were laid and the bagpipe lament played by Findlay Rose.
Mr Musumeci said “the lives of these brave souls will be forever honoured and remembered. May they all continue to rest in peace”.
Mr McKitrick said the union “overwhelmingly supported” paying for the new grave and plaque and it was fitting that people had come together to ensure “history never fades”.
Mrs Duignan said it was so tragic that the three men went to work and never came home.
She said her grandfather left a wife and four children behind.
Ms Bristow said she was “overwhelming grateful” for the union for financing the grave.
“To honour my great uncle ensures the utmost respect. He was only 22,” she said
