Latest news with #GattonLandfill
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Aussie tip worker's rare find after spotting mysterious box in piles of rubbish - and it's very valuable
An 'eagle-eyed' dump worker who found a hidden treasure buried among the piles of garbage he was moving has been praised for returning the find to its rightful owner. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli shared a photo of heavy machinery operator Tim and the collection of four war medals he found at Gatton landfill, in the state's southeast, last week. 'This story was too good not to share,' the premier wrote online. 'We're pleased to report council has already returned the medals to their rightful owner, Crisafulli continued. 'You're a legend, Tim!' Tim, who was only referred to by his first name, found the medals when he noticed an odd-looking box as he was working on shifting rubbish. His curiosity peaked and he opened it, discovering the medals, which have since been identified as the Australian Service Medal, Defence Force Service Medal, Gulf War Medal and Australian Defence Medal. Collectors will often pay upwards of $100 for each war medal. Dozens of commenters were glad to hear the medals were returned to the owner's family. 'Thank goodness someone saw them and now going to get back to the family,' one wrote. 'How lucky that Tim spotted those! Fantastic to hear they are back to their owner,' another said. Others shared unconfirmed theories on how the medals ended up at the dump. 'I suspect the dear man put them away safely and has passed away. The family then went in to clean up and had no idea they were in the box,' one person wrote. Several other commenters had a helpful tip for others, should they find medals. They suggested they contact their local RSL or the Australian War Memorial, with both organisations able to take care of abandoned medals and track their owners.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Aussie council's incredible find in landfill: 'Talk about a stroke of luck'
An Aussie family mourning the loss of their beloved patriarch has been reunited with his "priceless" war medals after they were accidentally thrown out and taken to a tip. Thanks to the efforts of a keen-eyed council worker who made the incredible discovery among the mountains of rubbish, the sentimental medals have now made it home. Lockyer Valley Regional Council, in Queensland's southeast, revealed the amazing outcome on Monday, sharing with the local community that the medals had been found. "Talk about a stroke of luck," the council said. "Fate intervened last week when an eagle-eyed council worker made a needle-in-the-haystack discovery at Gatton Landfill. "Tim, one of council's heavy machinery operators, was working at the facility when an unusual container caught his eye in a pile of rubbish, prompting him to take a closer look," the council continued. "Opening it up, he was startled to find four official war medals inside and immediately reported the surprise find to his supervisor." After posting about the find on social media, the post quickly attracted thousands of responses from Aussies around the country, including the daughter of the Aussie digger who had been awarded the medals. "I found out that a heap of my deceased dad's stuff was taken to the Gatton dump the week before," she said, explaining that when she visited the tip to ask about the items, she was told they were likely buried. The woman, who did not respond to Yahoo's request for further comment, didn't explain exactly how her father's belongings were accidentally taken to the tip, but made it clear how devastated she was by the loss, and just how grateful she is to have the medals returned. Aussie's 'incredible' 500-year-old discovery hidden behind invasive weed Council's innovative solution to quiet crisis in Aussie suburbs Incredible discovery centimetres from train tracks "They were in an old hexagon chocolate tin with my dad's favourite black Bundy rum polo shirt, and a couple of yellow post-it notes with the last shopping lists he gave me. Sounds silly to have them like that, but it was sentimental to me," she wrote. "He was the best man in the world. I am very grateful to have his medals back, and they are now with my mum." In Australia, war medals are typically held by veterans who served in the military or by their families who keep them as cherished mementos of a loved one's service. These medals may have been awarded for participation in major conflicts such as World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or more recent deployments in the Middle East. For many Australians, they carry emotional and historical significance, representing personal sacrifice, national service and family pride. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
