qHistoric graves at a former north Queensland leprosy colony are at risk of washing into the ocean and a former patient is desperate to save them.
There have been at least 120 marked graves at the lazaret cemetery on Fantome Island, off the Townsville coast.
Indigenous people were sent to the island for treatment of sexually transmitted infections and Hansen's Disease, known as leprosy, between the late 1920s and the early 1970s.
Previous Queensland Governments set up lazarets, or quarantine hospitals, on islands across the state and most were racially segregated.
The Department of Environment and Science (DES) said it knew of a "possible eroded grave" and there was no evidence of human remains within the soil of the bank.
But South Sea Islander elder and former patient Selwyn 'Joe' Eggmolesse OAM, who was sent to the island at the age of seven, believes many have been lost to erosion from tidal waters and years of neglect.
"Last time I was there [in November, 2019] we would have lost three or four graves," the 81-year-old said.
"I can't think about what's happening up there without choking up and wanting to cry."
Mr Eggmolesse fears one of his two aunts buried there are gone.
"The grave sites of deceased elders, family, and friends are sacred," he said.
Saving graves from afar
Mr Eggmolesse, who is based in Hervey Bay, said he was integral in getting the remains of the island's Lock Hospital and Lazaret added to Queensland Heritage Register in 2012.
He said for years there had been little action from the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, responsible for preserving the site.
In December 2019, the DES provided a heritage exemption to the council for emergency sandbagging to an eroded section of the cemetery after discussions with Mr Eggmolesse.
For almost a year, he has been asking the Community Development Program (CDP) for manpower and has requested hundreds of sandbags from State Emergency Services.
Janelle Whitehead, regional manager of Palm Island CDP, said the team faced hurdles, but hoped to get to the island once restrictions ease.
"We've had lots of rain and then we've had the COVID-19 [restrictions]," Ms Whitehead said.
"There's a lot of the CDP cohort that have a lot of connections to the island and they're very keen [to help]."
Council's director of works John Carleton said the cemetery was also affected by its location, soil structure, vegetation encroachment, and climate change.
He said funding for the site would be considered in its upcoming budget.
"We are aware that the Fantome Island cemetery requires works and have submitted applications for funding advice from the State Government," he said.
The council was unaware of the exact number of graves that have washed away.
Preservation 'last act of respect'
James Cook University Associate Professor Cheryl Taylor has studied literature about the Palm Island groups.
She said she feared Fantome Island's history, including past control and discrimination, would be forgotten if the gravesites were not preserved.
"Islands tend to drop out of site, drop out of awareness," she said.
"I've seen that happen again and again in the history of the Palm Islands.
"As a last act of respect to people who've suffered so terribly, those graves really should be preserved."
Mr Eggmolesse said his dying wish is to have a permanent solution to protect the sacred site.
The challenge will be securing funding.
