DEATH OF GIBNEY AS REPORTED IN THE LONDON TIMES 1925.
Father Gibney is 'buried' under the floor boards (as are other priests) in this Western Australian church.
The following images and text were sent in by site reader and fellow Kelly
enthusiast Dave Brown.
The images are large and therefore slow to load, however they are worth the
wait.
This is what Dave Brown said in his original feedback:
G'day Dave,
this morning I visited St Marys Cathedral, here in Perth, to have a look at the
last resting place of Mathew
Gibney. I thought there might have been a plaque or at least a
headstone but to my surprise I discovered that there is neither. He is buried
beneath the
wooden floor of the Cathedral! The previous Bishop was buried in the church
grounds
directly behind where the Alter used to be but as the church was expanded the
new addition
was built directly over his grave. When Gibney died his wish was to be buried
next to the
bishop so the floor boards were lifted and Gibney got his last wish. The church
is now
at least twice as long as it was originally with the Alter shifted to the far
end of the newer
addition. The only marking is a small carving of a cross on the floor boards
above the grave.
The Nuns are not even sure which one is Gibneys! They showed me some holes which
have
been drilled through the boards in search of the two graves. They also told me
that the two bodies
will probably be exhumed and re buried in Karrakatta Cemetery, the main Cemetery
in Perth.
Unless you were shown, you would have no idea that anybody had been buried
there, as the
graves are under the main isle of the church when you walk in towards the alter.
(must say I wasn't too keen to discover I had been walking over some ones
grave!)
Anyway, I took a couple of photos, which I got permission for, of the small
cross carving and the
inside of the church where he is buried. I also took one of the old part of the
church,
which is the original section from when Gibney was alive. I will get a couple of
prints and post a
set to you in case you would like them.
I was really surprised not to see it marked in some way.
Best wishes, mate,
Dave Brown.
Dave Brown: "This is the front of the old section of the church.
Father Gibney
must have walked through this door hundreds of times.
Dave Brown: "This is the final resting place of Father Gibney.
He is buried beneath these floor boards in St Mary's Cathedral,
the carving of the cross is about 40 mm across.
Dave Brown: "This view of the church is taken from where Gibney
is
buried and is looking back towards the old part as it was when Father
Gibney was alive.