UPDATE - LUKE'S MEMORIAL
Airlie Beach community member Jeudi Crocker submitted a public question to Whitsunday Regional Council regarding a permanent memorial for Luke Gilbert...
"Will Whitsunday Regional Council reconsider whether the location in Airlie Beach where Luke Brian Gilbert lost his life can be recognised as a culturally significant site or event under Section 1.8 of Council's Memorials in Council Parks, Gardens, Open Spaces and Road Reserve Policy (COMM_20), and therefore whether approval of a modest, permanent memorial for Luke at that location is important to the Whitsunday community?"
The question was accepted and read at the Council meeting on 26th August. Council's response will be provided at the next meeting or directly to Jeudi beforehand. Jeudi has also submitted the 1,100+ signature petition for tabling at Council.
Whitsunday Regional Council governance requested the verified signature download from Jeudi, which she provided. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time for the petition to be circulated to Councillors before the meeting. We hope it will be formally tabled at the next meeting.
In the meantime, we are asking local businesses to help us demonstrate the community significance of this memorial.
📌 If you own or operate a business in the Whitsunday or surrounding region and support a permanent memorial for Luke, we would be incredibly grateful if you would provide a short letter of support for the proposal. Please email us at helpluke@protonmail.com.
Every letter, signature and voice helps demonstrate that remembering Luke is about more than our family, it is about the wider community and the significance Airlie Beach now holds as the last place on earth that Luke was alive ❤️
Thank you to everyone continuing to stand with us.
Darren and Nicola Gilbert