Corporal Audrey Agnes Eastick of the Australian Women’s Army Services was stationed in Brisbane and working as a clerk at Australian Headquarters during World War 2. She grew up in Victoria in Horsham and at the time of her enlistment was 29 and married to Vivian Eastick, who was stationed with the Air Force in Townsville.
On the night of 3 October 1943, Audrey attends a function for the opening of the sergeant’s mess at Kedron and after it finishes at 10pm, climbs into the passenger seat of an army truck driven by Stanley Eyles to get a ride back to the city. Her friend and another officer sit in the back on the truck floor.
As the truck drives down Roblane Street towards the intersection of Lutwyche Road and Constitution Road, a tram is seen approaching the tram stop. A woman stands near the kerb ready to board. The truck loses control, passing between the woman and the tram. It swings to the right, mounts a footpath and crashes through two fences before ending on its side. The tram driver estimates the truck to be travelling at 70 to 80kms/hour.
Audrey receives fractures to her skull and dies from her injuries the next day. Stanley is interviewed by police and charged with manslaughter but was acquitted at trial in March the next year. He testifies Audrey grabs the wheel, causing the truck to lose control. He tells the court he has only had five glasses of beer and did not see the woman approaching to board the tram.
Her parents receive a letter from her the day before hearing the news of her death. They travel to Brisbane a few days later to attend the funeral in the Anzac section of Lutwyche cemetery.
The war graves section of Lutwyche Cemetery is now adorned with white marble headstones and surrounded by a green manicured hedge. A gap in the hedge near the Anzac Day Commemoration area allows access to the graves. On each side of the gap is a seat in a low sandstone wall. The lawn is neat and manicured and beside each grave is a rose, blooming bunches of pink or red flowers. Their petals scatter on the grass leaving a carpet of colour. Beyond, rising from a lawn, the Cross of sacrifice faces the graves.
Beside Audrey’s grave is a red rose, it’s scent floats across the air. On her stone it reads ‘Not just today, but every day, in silence we remember.’
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