The following is an article from the Express Advocate on the - TopicsExpress



          

The following is an article from the Express Advocate on the Central Coast. Really glad we could assist in providing a fitting memorial for the Sisters. AN appeal to raise money for gravestones for two sisters murdered 60 years ago has seen an overwhelming response. THEY’VE gone from being forgotten to being remembered with an elaborate headstone. Picture: MARK SCOTT Doug Holmes and Garry Bellinger looking over graves at Noraville Cemetery of sisters who were 65 years ago. Last week, the Express Advocate revealed the tragic story of murdered sisters Grace, 18, and Kathleen Holmes, 11, at Toukley more than 60 years ago. Their graves were marked only with a couple of rocks. The case struck a nerve with Central Coast residents and in just one week the $2500 required to erect a headstone at the gravesites of the two young girls was raised. More than 50 individuals, touched by the sadness surrounding the story, dipped into their pockets to donate amounts ranging from $5 to $250 while White Lady Funerals contributed the final target amount. And the generosity didn’t end there. Edstine Creative Stone of Point Clare contacted appeal organiser Garry Bellinger and offered to supply and erect the headstone at no cost. Mr Bellinger, of Hamlyn Terrace, who started the appeal after stumbling across the two unmarked graves at Noraville Cemetery and eventually tracking down the sisters’ sole surviving brother Doug Holmes of Gosford, said the response had been overwhelming. “We’re gobsmacked,” Mr Bellinger said. “Every where I go people have asked how they can help.” Mr Bellinger said after speaking with Mr Holmes they had agreed to contribute the $2500 that has been donated, towards a $5300 granite headstone that will be built and erected by Edstine Creative Stone. “We could have passed it on to a charity but we thought those people who donated did so because they wanted to honour the memory of the two murdered sisters and it was only fair that this money should go to that cause alone,” he said. “Edstine are still contributing $2800 and we think that is more than generous.” Mr Bellinger said it would take about eight weeks to gain the necessary approvals and they expect to erect the headstone in late November or early December.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 22:17:30 +0000

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