Media Release - Community Shocked by Vandalism at Quorn Cemetery
Council Working with Families to Restore Memorial Plaques
The Flinders Ranges community has reacted with shock and outrage following a deeply disturbing act of vandalism at the Quorn Cemetery.
Sometime between 6.00pm on Wednesday 4 March and 7.30am on Friday 6 March 2026 offenders targeted the Charlie Hill Garden, stealing 87 brass memorial plaques from the ashes garden and several gravesites, including plaques belonging to war veterans.
The Flinders Ranges Council Mayor Ken Anderson said the act had caused widespread anger and distress across the community. “This is an appalling and deeply disrespectful act. The plaques taken represent the lives, memories and legacies of loved ones who are laid to rest in our community. To have them removed in this way from a place that should be treated with dignity and respect has caused enormous hurt to many families.”
“This behaviour has understandably caused outrage within the community. Cemeteries are places of remembrance, reflection and peace, and for someone to violate that in this way is both shocking and unacceptable.”
Council staff have begun the difficult task of contacting families affected by the theft. This has proven to be an emotional process for both staff and family members as the scale of the incident becomes clear.
Council is working closely with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, which has committed to replacing the plaques belonging to war veterans. “We sincerely thank the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for their immediate support and commitment to assisting with the replacement of plaques for our veterans. Their partnership during this difficult time is greatly appreciated,” Mayor Anderson said.
Council is also working with the State Government to ensure the full cost of replacing all stolen plaques is covered. The replacement process will take time as Council works with families and plaque suppliers to ensure the plaques are reinstated correctly and respectfully. Families are asked for their patience as the process may take several months.
“We know how important these plaques are to families, and Council is committed to restoring them as quickly as possible so that dignity can be returned to the resting place of those who are commemorated there,” Mayor Anderson said.
Once the plaques have been replaced, Council intends to hold a remembrance ceremony and invite affected families to honour the reinstatement of the plaques and the memory of their loved ones. “This has been a deeply upsetting event for many in our community, but we hope that bringing families together to honour those remembered will help restore some sense of peace and respect to the site.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact SA Police.