Wandering around the Wilcannia cemetery, you would have seen the unique mosaic headstones. Colourful and creative, they give special tribute to our loved ones who have passed away. It takes care and time to make each headstone, and the work continues on with Uncle Steven (Stevie) Harris.

In 2018, Monica Kerwin, Kelvin and Foketi Thornycroft began the program of Paaka Thartu Karnu, or Healing Hearts. The idea was to work through grief by learning the skills to produce headstones, along with a community doing the same thing. Each project could take about 7 weeks, as they all tried to finish together.

Stevie started with the team “because I was bored” and only thought he would make one headstone. But then he realised that he could do another for his brother, and then another, and then another. Despite it being hard to start at first, “you feel you want to finish it.” Stevie just kept going; “I was the most reliable one who showed up all the time.” In the end, he says, “It was the best thing that ever happened.”

After some time, the program ended and “sadly we lost the old girl [Foketi]”. But Stevie did not want to stop, as it was “really good… I really, really enjoyed it.” He is a real advocate for the value of making headstones. “It touches the heart when you’re doing it; it makes you feel good about yourself.” Stevie explains how it is about connecting with loved ones and doing something that looks nice, and people love them because they are well done.

Now it takes Stevie about seven days to finish a headstone. Kelvin is still involved in the process in some ways and the whole community pitches in, helping him to source blocks, tiles and grout mix. He also finds materials at tip shops and cuts the tiles himself with a tile cutter. Stevie has even used an old thrown away bed frame to raise up one of the headstones.

Sometimes Stevie has gone out with groups or families to place the headstones and hold services to remember the loved ones. At first “I felt a bit shy about getting up to talk, but then I felt a bit brave and now I love doing this here.” He feels good about visiting the cemetery, looking around, cleaning up and straightening things.

Stevie still welcomes people who would like to prepare a headstone for a family member or friend. However, he asks that people get their plaques done themselves through the Shire or somewhere else. He can help, however, with the tiling and creative part. So, see Stevie if you are interested and let us give thanks for our headstone artists who make our cemetery such a special place for the memories of our loved ones.

This article appeared in Wilcannia News, 22 July 2025.