A distinctive part of Carlyle Cemetery is the Chinese Burning Towers and footstones in the pagan section.
Remembering our Chinese burials is an important part of recognising the history of the cemetery.
One of these burials marks the final resting place of Lee Fooke, who passed away in his camp hut at the Chinese Camp in Rutherglen on the 8th of October 1915. He was estimated to be 82 years old at the time of his death.
Lee's body was taken to the Globe Hotel to be examined by the local doctor, Dr.Harris, and the Deputy Coroner, who ruled the cause of death to be 'failure of the heart' due to his considerable age. He was orginally interred under the name 'Lu Fook' but this was modified on submission of his death certificate.
There is a footstone (see image) at Carlyle Cemetery marking Lee's final resting place. Like so many early Chinese settlers buried at Carlyle, not much is known about his life however, it is fitting to appreciate the contribution they made to early life on the goldfields and shaping the history of our local area.