The sister of an Aboriginal man whose death in custody sparked the 2004 Palm Island riot says the relocation of a memorial rock from the island's police station has encouraged healing.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name and image of someone who has died.
The monument, a memorial to Cameron Mulrunji Doomadgee, has been moved to his sister Valmai Aplin's front yard on Palm Island, off Townsville.
"Brought it up home and it made a big healing process for all of us," Ms Aplin said.
Ms Aplin said she never wanted to forget Mr Doomadgee.
"I don't want my grand children to forget him," she said.
Mr Doomadgee died from massive internal injuries in a police cell on the island in November 2004.
In response, residents took to the streets and burnt down buildings, including the police station.
A damning 2016 Federal Court ruling found the Queensland Police breached the Racial Discrimination Act with its investigation into his death and subsequent unrest on the island.
The judgement summary read officers broke into houses "with assault rifles raised, confronting unarmed men, women and children".
This year, hundreds of Palm Islanders affected by the events received compensation as part of a $30 million State Government class action settlement.
Ms Aplin said she was grateful the council helped moved the rock just in time for this year's anniversary of Mr Doomadgee's death.
She said she never wanted it placed at the police station and requested it be moved because children were damaging it.
The memorial is now surrounded by tinsel, fairy lights, flowers and a turtle ornament, which represents Mr Doomadgee's hunting skills.
"We wouldn't have [decorated] it down there," Ms Aplin said.
"The kids that roam the streets at night, they would have wrecked it. They would have pulled everything off."
"[I] come out every night, just sitting down [beside the memorial]. It's peaceful."
Black Lives Matter protests have dominated international headlines this year.
Ms Aplin said it hurt her that deaths in police custody were still occurring.
"That was a bit sad for us to see all that still going on," Ms Aplin said.
"Just hope nobody goes through that, what we went through, especially on this island."
