Family Fights Council Over Beachside Memorial Plaques After Storm Damage

A family who lost two brothers to separate freak accidents is locked in a battle with a local council as they fight to reinstate their beachside memorial plaques after the benches they were on were damaged in a recent storm.

The McCurdy family from Mandurah, south of Perth, had the plaques attached to a bench at a local beach about 15 years ago after the death of Ryan, 22, and his brother Wade, 19.

Ryan died in 2008 after falling out of a tree on his property.

A year later Wade, who was a body boarding state champion, died on Christmas Eve in 2009 after jumping with a friend into an estuary from the Dawesville Bridge.

Matt McCurdy, who is Wade and Ryan's brother, said a recent storm damaged the memorials at Madora Bay.

"Unfortunately, the benches got ripped out to sea. Some family friends managed to find the benches and get the plaques off, so we've got them back in our possession now, luckily," he said.

The McCurdy family is pleading with the City of Mandurah to allow them to display the plaques again.

"We want [the council] to approve reinstating them once the new infrastructure is built," the surviving brother said.

But the city has denied the request, saying it did not align with its new memorial policy which stated in part that memorials would be removed when they had fallen into disrepair.

'A little heartless'

Mr McCurdy wants the council to reconsider and did not believe the damage to the memorial plaques from the storm should be subject to the new policy.

"It's such a small thing in the scheme of things, but those plaques are a massive part of our lives," he told 102.5 ABC Radio Perth.

Mr McCurdy remembered his brothers as being "a big part of the Mandurah community" loved the water, their family and animals.

He said said his mother maintained the plaques, where family and friends often visited.

"We created a nice little spot for the family and friends to hang out and talk with them," Mr McCurdy said.

"I've got kids of my own now and unfortunately, they won't be able to meet their uncles.

"So, it's a good spot for me to take my daughters and have some chats about my brothers."

No final decision

The McCurdy brothers' mother Anne Mulley told the ABC the council had denied her initial request to have the plaques reinstated once the bench was replaced.

In an email seen by the ABC, the City of Mandurah instead offered potentially planting a tree.

"The City of Mandurah's Memorial Policy changed at the end of 2024 and the installation of memorial plaques is no longer supported," the email read.

But in a later statement to the ABC the city's chief executive officer Casey Mihovilovich said no final decision had been made.

"We recognise how much these plaques mean to Ryan and Wade's family and the important role they have played in helping loved ones remember and honour them over many years," he said in a statement.

"Before any decisions are made, we want to sit down with the family, listen to their concerns and work through the options together."

Mr McCurdy said the family would not stop fighting to have their brother's memorial replaced and have started an online petition which has attracted more than 400 signatures in only a few days.

"We're hoping that'll help prove to the council that there's a strong push behind having these plaques reinstated," he said.