Sonar used in grave search

SONAR mappings for lost graves at Bundaberg Cemetery of South Sea Islanders, Indigenous and Chinese residents could be as much about the future as the past, according to elder Dudley Byquar.

Mr Byquar said he hoped the project would raise awareness of the traditional culture of South Sea Islanders.

“I would like to see our heritage keep going and I hope it teaches them (young South Sea Islanders) our history,” Mr Byquar said.

The project is being run by the Australian South Sea Islander Action Group and as part of the Green Corps initiative, and will also include cultural workshops and the building of a replica kanaka wall.

Australian South Sea Islander Action Group representative Matt Nagas said the sonar exploration would be an important part in uncovering the history of South Sea Islanders in the area by finding 100-year-old graves which had been covered up.

“The project will help South Sea Islanders in identifying their families and where they came from - people who were brought here often did not have any information on them,” Mr Nagas said.

Mr Nagas said Mr Byquar was not the only elder excited by the project.

“The elders will have some input on how they would like the cemetery to be designed and some elders are very interested in seeing it done and the stories to continue to be told,” Mr Nagas said.

IMPACT program manager Rick Johnstone said the project would be beneficial to the entire community.

“It is not just an environmental or a cultural site - there is a little bit of everything,” Mr Johnstone said.

Mr Johnstone said the project is a part of the Green Corps initiative, which is a federally-funded project focused on giving 17 to 20-year-olds training in conservation and cultural practices and said this project was one of the biggest in the area.

“We are running a double project with a team of 20 instead of the usual 10,” he said.

To be a part of the Green Corps project, telephone IMPACT before March 10.

Work on the project will begin on March 30.