 Vera died in May 1999 surrounded by loving friends and family.The people of Cooktown are the proud guardians of her priceless collection of botanical illustrations, In 1989 Vera donated 140 of her botanical illustrations to the people of Cooktown of the flowering plants found in this unique region.Vera managed to obtain a grant of land over a lovely heathland area of about 93.5 hectares or , as a wildlife reserve, about 17 km southeast of Bundaberg.