Town to maintain lookout

Following the death of Port Hedland’s oldest World War II veteran, the Town of Port Hedland has committed to the upkeep of Merv Stanton Lookout.

Town director of infrastructure and town services Gerard Sherlock advised the town had agreed to take over the maintenance and renewal of Merv Stanton Lookout after the death of creator Merv Stanton.

In this month’s council agenda, Mr Sherlock said “maintenance will be undertaken once the Town’s reticulation suppliers supply the materials”.

He advised the maintenance would be added to the Town’s schedules and the costs would be covered under the Town’s existing operational budget.

Located on Athol Street, the garden lookout was created by Mr Stanton as a commemorative garden and tribute to his former unit.

Mr Stanton first came to Port Hedland at 16 in WWII with the guerilla warfare section of the army, and fought the Japanese off the North West coast in 1942.

The lookout and old rifle range have been listed in the Town of Port Hedland’s Municipal Inventory of Heritage Places.

Mr Stanton was laid to rest at the Pioneer Cemetery last Saturday, followed by a celebration of his life at ANZAC House in South Hedland.