Friends of Ray Dark, who was lost to the Tropical Cyclone Jasper flood disaster in 2023, celebrate his life as they unveil a memorial rock in his honour on Saturday. Photo: Supplied.
What started as a simple idea to honour a community member lost to Tropical Cyclone Jasper has turned into a beautiful celebration of life where Bloomfield residents can gather to remember their friend.
When 85-year-old Degarra man Ray Dark lost his life during the region’s worst flood disaster, he left a huge hole in the community he had called home for almost half a decade.
Earlier this year, volunteers from the Bloomfield River District Residents Association (BRDRA) came together to organise a memorial rock near the land on which his house used to sit, and on 3 May, people from near and far who had been part of Mr Dark’s life came together for its unveiling.
“It was a really good representation of his life and the cross-section of people who were in it,” BRDRA secretary Robyn Guedes said.
“We went around and spoke about Ray and our nice and funny memories of him.”
She said Mr Dark was one of around eight people who lived on the low-lying riverbanks and spent the 2023 flood night on roofs and clinging to trees, trying to escape the rapidly rising water.
“It was a real wake-up to us that someone actually died in one of our floods,” Ms Guedes said.
“We have floods regularly, and that was arguably the hugest flood we’ve ever had, but to actually lose someone, I think everyone poured their heart into it and wanted to help out and wanted to make a monument for him.”
The unveiling also featured a painting of Mr Dark by local artist Dan Hodgson, which Ms Guedes said would likely be put up in the community hall to be enjoyed by all.
With the memorial rock now complete, the secretary encouraged everyone to visit and honour Mr Dark in their own way.
“That plaque on the rock is just the beginning, so come along and plant a flowering shrub,” she said.
“We need to put a little bit of chain up to make sure to protect it, and some more gravel, but it’ll grow, and people will add their own little personal tribute to him and improve it.”
Ray Dark memorial rock and painting by local artist Dan Hodgson. Photo: Supplied.
