By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
ZAC Griffiths took comfort in the fact that a ceramic pelican watched over the grave of his papa, Ashley.
The 11-year-old from Berwick was devastated to learn that the pelican had recently disappeared from Berwick Cemetery.
Zac, his mum Janine and grandmother Dianne are appealing for information on the missing keepsake.
“I would hate to think that something would do this. How can anybody be so cruel?” Janine said.
“I’d like to ask if anyone knows where our pelican is, please return it.”
The family had recently made a special visit to the cemetery to place the pelican on the grave, a favourite animal of their beloved husband, father and grandfather.
Dianne returned a week later, on Mother’s Day, to lay flowers on her mum neighbouring grave. She was devastated to find that the pelican had disappeared.
She scoured the cemetery for clues as to the pelican’s whereabouts but could not find anything.
Janine said the family is hesitant to replace the ceramic statue.
“We’ll think twice before we put another one up,” she said.
“We were originally going to put up a pelican that was my dad’s, but my son didn’t want anything to happen to it.
“This is not the first time I’ve heard of trinkets going missing from graves at Berwick Cemetery.”
Zac and Ashley shared a special bond as part of three generations of the family sharing the same birthday.
Janine said the disappearance has left Zac heartbroken.
“He had such and special bond with his papa and he’s so upset that this has happened,” she said.
“It’s been really difficult to come to terms with.”
