Rose planted in memory of lost son stolen

It doesn’t take much for Brenda and Graeme Morris to shed a tear over their son who died in a tragic accident 35 years ago.

But, when someone stole a rose planted in his memory from a public garden in Warragul, Brenda was overwhelmed by sadness.

The colourful rose, named after their son Scott William, was planted in a garden bed at the Smith and Palmerston St intersection in December last year.

Scott was 11-years-old when he died at the intersection while doing his morning paper round.

He had left home that morning, yelling out his usual cheery “see you mum” – but it was the last time Brenda saw her son.

Scott was riding his bike when he was struck by a truck on May 1, 1986.  

For years Brenda and Graeme wanted a suitable memorial for Scott but with restrictions on roadside memorials, and at a busy intersection, they never knew what to do.
They wanted a subtle and appropriate memorial.

After Scott’s death, Brenda read about a Box Hill nursery, The Rose Paradise, developing roses in memory of loved ones.

With Scott’s passion for bright colours, Brenda said it seemed apt to develop a rose in his honour.

The Scott William floribunda rose features bright red and yellow blooms – Scott’s favourite colours.

Brenda last year approached Baw Baw Shire about planting the Scott William rose in a garden bed at the intersection.

Their granddaughter helped plant the rose in December. They were still waiting for the plaque to be installed.

But last week, when Brenda walked past, she was shocked to see the rose gone from the garden bed adjacent to the public toilets.

“I just stood there and cried. It’s just sad that these things happen.

“We are broken hearted, a memorial that meant so much to us and would have given beauty to others.

Scott was doing a paper round for pocket money so he could save for a Snowy Mountain electric train board and a second hand drum set.

“He was a little boy who loved his church and was passionate about colour.  He was a lively, adventurous little boy,” she said.

He was in grade six student at Warragul Primary School when he died.

He had an older brother and sister, and a younger sister who died in 2001 aged 23.

“It’s been a tough 50 years of marriage but we will make it through, we have a strong faith.

“We continue to grieve, we never stop grieving, it just changes when you get older.

“You learn to live a new normal, it doesn’t mean you forget them or the grief will go away,” she said.

Brenda said she had spoken to the shire about replacing the rose. Council staff told her it was common for plants to be stolen from public garden beds.