93 years ago, the Burdekin Shire was the setting of a tragic and violent murder of a young woman which to this day, remains one of the region’s most infamous unsolved mysteries.
Anna Philomena Morgan’s death headlined publishments far and wide in 1932, encouraging a plethora of theories as to what led to the 19-year-old’s murder, with many speculating the Italian Australian mafia was to blame. More commonly known as Jean Morris, the young woman led a life shrouded in mystery and after no one came forward to claim her body, she was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in the Ayr Cemetery.
Touched by Jean’s tragedy, Henry Petersen and Paula Dowson made it their mission to give the young woman a dignified funeral and gravestone to truly honour a life lost too soon and make a stand against violence towards women.
After almost a century, Jean Morris’ grave has finally been officially marked, following the presentation of an impressive headstone on Tuesday, the 28th of May where many locals joined Henry, Paula, and Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort for a monumental Unveiling Ceremony.
Spearheaded by Henry and Paula, almost two years of fundraising and heartache has led to this moment, with the pair explaining they could not have reached this point without the support of the entire community.
“We’ve given her the dignity she is deserving of, and we’ve given her her name,” shared Paula at the unveiling last month.
James Cook University Historian, Bianka Vidonja was also in attendance of the ceremony, and closed the gathering with a moving speech, remining everyone that Jean should not be remembered for her association with the Black Hand, or her profession, but as a fashionable and vibrant young lady.
“Today, Anna, almost a century after your brutal murder, we honour and remember you,” Bianka said.
While the fundraising for the headstone has come to a close, Henry believes a sealed, weather proof case for an official visitors log book would make a welcome addition to the historic grave. All donations towards the fundraiser can be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/stiletto-jean-morris-headstone-fundraiser.
“This girl is part of our history,” Henry said.
“She should be remembered.”
Trevor Neal (Whitsunday Monuments), Henry Peterson, Paula Dowson and Mayor Pierina Dale Cort and JCU Historian Bianka Vidonja at the Unveiling Ceremony (Photo Supplied)
Paula presented a moving speech at the unveiling (Photo Supplied)
The official unveiling of Jean Morris' gravestone was marked by a monumental ceremony (Photo Supplied)
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