Community & Business
31 March, 2026
Once lost, now found
A ONCE lost photograph of a brother who served in World War II brought Lottie Hastie to tears as she was reunited with it on her 105th birthday last week.
Tolga’s charming Lottie Hastie OAM celebrated her 105th birthday at her home last Thursday, where she was surprised with a framed photo of her brother Robert Colin Daley, known by many as Colin, which was believed by the family to have been lost.
When the image was close enough for Lottie to make out it was her brother, she burst into tears as she soaked up the beautiful moment. Colin’s six medals were also restored to the family along with the picture.
She said she was really surprised to be presented with the precious family keepsake and highlighted the fact she would spend the day with family and friends.
Lottie enjoys spending time with her three children, seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Lottie’s brother, Dick Daley, was also touched to be reunited with his brother’s photograph.
“Oh, it was something marvellous – just straight out marvellous. It really is the only good photo we have of him,” he said.
The story of the lost photograph
Robert Colin Daley’s photograph was initially hung in the Atherton RSL in the 1960s, but after closing a number of years later, it was taken to the Barron Valley Hotel where it was hung in the dining room.
“And we liked that. It was in a good position,” Dick said.
“But when the new RSL, being there near Priors Creek Bridge, opened up, it must have been the RSL who took it (from the BV) down there. And then, I’d say it might have been there two years, then it went missing.”
It is understood Colin’s photo, along with many other items from the RSL, were placed into storage for a number of years. It wasn’t until Dick ran into a Nasho (National Servicemen) friend of his, Ian Rafferty, that he asked if the photo could be tracked down.
“A friend of mine from the Mareeba RSL, Barry Dick, phoned me and asked what I might know about a bunch of pictures that had been dumped at the Mareeba RSL,” Ian explained.
“I said, ‘Is there one with a big, bold glass in front, with a photo of a soldier and his medals attached?’. He told me that they didn’t see anything like that out there, so I asked if I could go have a look.
“We went through everything, most of it was leaning against a stage I think it was, and we couldn’t find anything.
“So I was just having a chat with the vice president, Grant Morrow, he was leaning back on the stage – it was about shoulder height – and he felt something move. He had a look and turned around and said, ‘Mate, would this be him?’.
“I said, ‘I could hug you and kiss you!’,” he joked. “It was what I was looking for.”
Colin’s photograph and medals will now remain in the family’s possession for many years to come.
