Elders 'distraught and ashamed' as teens charged for gravesite vandalism

Elders in the Indigenous community of Cherbourg say they are deeply disappointed and ashamed after the town's cemetery was vandalised by teenagers.

Six teenagers, aged 14 to 18, have been charged following a police investigation into the wilful damage of gravesites last Friday.

Several headstones and the fence on Cemetery Road were damaged at 4:30am on Friday after allegedly being driven over by a vehicle.

Police allege they found two cars at the scene that had been stolen from a Kingaroy address earlier in the night.

The wreck of a third vehicle linked to the offence was found burnt out nearby a short time later.

Police allege it was stolen from a separate Kingaroy property on Thursday night.

The boys, from Kingaroy and Cherbourg, are facing charges including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, wilful damage, and enter premises with intent.

Traditional owner Aunty Ada Simpson said the vandalism of gravesites has affected the community.

"I was really distraught to think that our young people have reached this level of behaviour,"

she said.

"We were brought up to respect not only our elders, but to respect their resting place as well."

'Enough is enough'

In a video from the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, the mayor, councillors, and elders addressed the community with the message "enough is enough".

It comes amid growing concern about a wave of youth offending in the regional Queensland town.

Councillor Tom Langdon said the vandalism was a disgrace.

"We're all going through sorry business. We should be here for everyone," he said.

"This is not our culture," added Councillor Daniel Weazel.

"So please stop. It's hurting our community."

Community elder and Wakka Wakka man Uncle Eric Law said the cemetery was the "resting place of all our heroes".

"What happened on Friday at our community of Cherbourg affected me so much that for the first time in my life, the first time in 76 years, I've been ashamed to say I came from Cherbourg," he said.

"I've been disappointed but never ever ashamed.

"You can make up all the excuses under the sun like drugs or government, but the bottom line is … you look in the mirror, that's the person who did it and that's the person that's responsible."

Respect needed in youth

Mayor Bruce Simpson said the community needed to come together to figure out a way to reach young people on the wrong track.

"We are going to make sure we do everything we can to make this behaviour stop," Cr Simpson said.

In the neighbouring towns of Murgon, Wondai and Kingaroy, there have been multiple town hall meetings over the past year focusing on local crime rates.

Cherbourg elders say respect must be at the forefront.

Aunty Ada Simpson said the young people needed to sit down with the elders of the community.

"They went through a lot, so it's up to us to respect what they've left behind, and most of all, to treasure the memories that we carry as older people in the community," she said.

Uncle Eric Law said something had to change.

"We've got to get [respect] back here in Cherbourg," he said.

"Respect is going to be the thing that we need in the future."

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