The community turned out in force on Friday 18 December to witness or join in as Roscoe Webb, manager of Waikumete Cemetery, set out on a 24-hour continuous walk to raise funds to replace the 120-year-old headstone of James Cross.
Among the participants was James Cross descendent, Dennis Reddaway, who formerly served in the Royal New Zealand Navy.
The event raised $3,550 towards the restoration cost of $5,500.
Roscoe Webb was accompanied by Head Sexton Sheree Stout, Sexton Bruce Corry (who walked for 19 hours) and Helen Biffin of Auckland Council Parks Department.
During the day and night, Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, Councillor Linda Cooper, Waitakere Ranges Local Board Chair Sandra Coney, Auckland Council Cemeteries Manager, Catherine Moore, and a number of ex-servicemen and neighbours turned up to walk alongside and offer encouragement. For the final four hours, Titirangi Returned Services Association President Matt McMillan joined Roscoe to complete the walk.
Members of the Steel Horses and BRO-CCAAB motorcycle clubs, some of them ex-servicemen, also visited the grave of James Cross and contributed to the restoration fund.
James Cross, a sailor from HMS Orlando, drowned in Auckland Harbour on 9 May 1894 and his crewmates raised the money for the headstone. But in 2015, 121 years later, the fine marble headstone was destroyed by vandals.
Organisers thanked all those who joined the walk and generously donated to the restoration fund for the James Cross headstone.
If you could not join the walk but wish to donate online, the account is 060 185 016 9530 00 using the name, "Cross" as a reference. Donations will also be accepted at the Waikumete Cemetery office.
