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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Meet the groundskeeper breathing life into a regional war cemetery

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Rob Thorne, groundskeeper at the Adelaide River War Cemetery, finds deep connection with the 435 individuals buried there.
  • Thorne recently restored the cemetery after it was damaged by floodwaters in March, facing challenges from silt, debris, and wild animals.
  • He takes immense pride in his work, especially in cultivating perpetual roses in the challenging Top End climate, honoring the legacy of those buried.

Rob Thorne, the groundskeeper at the Adelaide River War Cemetery, finds profound companionship among the 435 individuals interred there. He speaks of a connection, stating, "You know them, well, I'm around long enough that they probably know me better than I know them." Thorne, who works about an hour southeast of Darwin, Australia, sees his role as more than just a job.

You know them, well, I'm around long enough that they probably know me better than I know them

· Rob ThorneThorne describes his connection with the individuals buried at the cemetery.

His dedication was tested recently when floodwaters inundated the cemetery in March, leaving silt and debris across the grounds and even lifting fence footings. This damage posed a risk of wild animals, like pigs and crocodiles, trampling the graves. Thorne worked to restore the cemetery in time for Anzac Day, a task he views as the "prime of my level" for a gardener.

But you do connect with them … you can't forget some of them

· Rob ThorneThorne reflects on the personal impact of tending to the graves.

Despite the challenging climate of the Top End, Thorne takes pride in cultivating perpetual roses, comparing his ambition to growing tomatoes in Antarctica. He sees his work at the war cemetery as the highest calling for a gardener, honoring the legacy of the soldiers and civilians buried there, including those lost in the bombing of Darwin.

Most gardeners are worried about mites, slugs and snails, but around here I'm always worried about pigs, buffaloes, and even crocodiles

· Rob ThorneThorne explains the unique challenges of maintaining the cemetery grounds.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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