Whim Creek cemetery loses the volunteer who spent two decades maintaining its garden, prompting pleas for help

The Whim Creek Cemetery was looked after by one man for more than 20 years and with his recent passing an old friend has urged people to help take care of the historic site. Frank Wood passed away on June 26, aged 94, and throughout his retirement, he had volunteered considerable time to maintain the small cemetery at Whim Creek. Mr Wood had lived in the Pilbara for most of his life, working as a gold prospector, and had built his own home in Whim Creek where he lived with his wife Florence Reynolds. Roebourne resident Joan Maddison had been friends with Mr Wood for more than 50 years and now he was gone she said the cemetery was falling into disrepair. “Unfortunately, no one looks after it anymore,” she said. “We went up there the other day to put his ashes there and we had to pull all the weeds out. “When Frank was there you could see the graves but now it’s all weeds. The miners are part of history and need to be looked after. Ms Maddison said Mr Wood was a “gorgeous person” who loved gardening and music. Mr Wood’s ashes were spread around a plaque at the cemetery that was made in his honour. He was father to three, grandfather to five, and great-grandfather to 12.