Meet the groundskeeper breathing life into a regional war cemetery

Rob Thorne is the dedicated groundskeeper who keeps the Adelaide River War Cemetery alive. (ABC News: Lillian Watkins) Link copiedShareShare articleStobo, Daisy, Molly and Archibald are just four of the 435 names who keep groundskeeper Rob Thorne company during his workday in the town of Adelaide River, about an hour south-east of Darwin. "You know them — well, I'm around long enough that they probably know me better than I know them," Mr Thorne said. The number of people buried here outnumbers the total population of Adelaide River, which is home to a little more than 300 people. About 435 people are buried at the Adelaide River War Cemetery, 114 kilometres south-east of Darwin. (ABC News: Lillian Watkins) During World War II, this peaceful town in the Top End was anything but quiet. At its peak, tens of thousands of troops passed through. A major general hospital set up in the town and, after Darwin was bombed — in the largest attack ever carried out on mainland Australia — Adelaide River became a headquarters for both Australian and American forces. The legacy of that time, and of those people, remains there today — in the Adelaide River War Cemetery. The significance of the place and Mr Thorne's role in it today are not lost on the dedicated gardener. Rob Thorne takes great pride in tending to the garden at the Adelaide River War Cemetery. (ABC News: Lillian Watkins) Despite loving what he does, Mr Thorne had his work cut out for him last month when he needed to get the cemetery up to scratch for Anzac Day, after floodwaters ripped through the grounds in March. "A lot of silt, a lot of debris all over the pedestal beds … the pressure of the water, the amount of water, it actually lifted the concrete footings of the [fence]," Mr Thorne said. The grounds at the Adelaide River War Cemetery were inundated in March. (Supplied) With the fence down, the threat of wild animals trampling the area was a very real risk. "Most gardeners are worried about mites, slugs and snails, but around here I'm always worried about pigs, buffaloes, and even crocodiles," Mr Thorne said. "Had a baby crocodile once in the backyard — not a surprise, the Adelaide River is just over there". Rob Thorne is particularly proud that he's been able to grow perpetual roses, despite the climate in Adelaide River. (ABC News: Lillian Watkins) One of Mr Thorne's proudest achievements is growing the perpetual roses in the garden. "A lot of people say you can't grow roses [here], but I tend to think I'm going to try and grow tomatoes in Antarctica, therefore I can grow roses in the Top End," he said. And while he spends his days caring for what's alive, he never loses sight of who it's all for. Mr Thone says he doesn't play favourites, but some graves naturally stand out to him. They include the unknown civilians who died in the bombing of Darwin — names like Jimmy from Queensland, Billy from Marakai, Dizzy from Adelaide River, and a woman named Daisy Martin. Rob Thorne says the story of Daisy Martin's passing is one that sits close to his heart. (ABC News: Lillian Watkins) "Daisy's a really sad story ... she was in the admin house, she looked after the administrators. When they got hit, they forgot about her; she was found three days later," Mr Thorne said. Vietnam War veteran Reginald Hedley Hilliar, who was only re-interred in 2016 during the Operation Bring Them Home campaign, also sits close to his heart. "He's alone in the corner because he was a Vietnam veteran. He was a local guy from Tortilla Flats," Mr Thorne said. "He does get a lot of attention … good on him. He's back home, right here in Adelaide River." Corporal Reginald Hillier died during in the Vietnam War and was repatriated to Australia in 2016. (Supplied) In the seven years he has worked at the cemetery, Mr Thorne has seen many reunions between those buried there and their descendants. "Some lady came in from way out back of New South Wales, and with her she brought a handful of dirt from her home," he said. "She walked in, she was 80-odd, on her frame … she came straight up to me and says, 'I'm looking for this person', and showed me this tub of dirt she had in her hand, and she told me she was bringing this bit of home back to him. Rob Thorne says he's come to learn of the stories of those who rest at the Adelaide River War Cemetery. (ABC News: Lillian Watkins) And if Mr Thorne is ever feeling glum, he'll take a look at the hundreds of comments praising the maintenance of the gardens and plaques in the guest book at the cemetery's gate. "I couldn't be prouder actually," he said. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesTrump says agreement with Iran over end of war is 'largely negotiated'Topic:War

Meet the groundskeeper breathing life into a regional war cemetery

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