Memorials ready to be crushed for roadworks. Karakatta Cemetery, WAustralia
Is anyone out there maybe suggesting that I’m “obsessive”?
I confess, I give up… I am
Regular readers would no doubt remember my outrage at the “re-cycling” of cemetery plots here in South Australia and the horror at the very likely possibility that my precious Great Grandmother would be dug up. You can read about it HERE
My next post was full of excitement as I explained that the South Australian Govern-ment had just released a “Draft Burial and Cremation 2012″ Bill was and asking for comments, and suggestions, from the general public and not just from those with an invested interest.On accessing the Draft Bill my head was turned inside out with the “legalese” but plodded on and so posted “Shortcuts for Commenting” to give a bit of a “leg up” to anyone else thinking of putting in a submission.
My final post expressed both surprise, and delight, in having managed to completed this somewhat onerous task and offerred to email copies of my submission, if requested.
The good news is that the new “South Australian Burial and Cremation” Bill has now passed it’s “2nd reading” in the House of Assembly with the next debate in just a few days time, Tuesday 5 Mar 2013. Fingers crossed that we may finally have some effective legal protection for our Ancestors, their remains, their gravesites and memorials. Will post the outcome as soon as it comes to hand.
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Sadly all this good news, and hopeful thinking, was somewhat shot down in flames just a few days ago when Crissouli on her Blog, That Moment in Time, alerted us to the wanton destruction and desecration of gravesites in Western Australia. Please click HERE to read her post and see many photos of exactly what is going on there. It’s hard to believe that such beautiful and spiritual, stone monuments are being gathered up and crushed for “road works”, often without relatives being informed.
Published in the “Subiaco Post” on 1 May 2006 is Ms Allchurch’s horror, and continuing anguish, on discovering that the joint grave of her much loved Great Grand-mother, Grandmother, Aunt and mother had been destroyed, despite written assurances from the Western Australian Metropolitan Cemeteries Board that she’d receive notification if any changes were proposed.
Makes you feel helpless, doesn’t it. Thanks to Sandra Playle there is a Petition you can sign to add your voice to the voices of others demanding that authorities STOP desecrating the final resting places of our Ancestors, destroying their monuments and discarding any physical memory of them just like so much flotsam and jetsam.
On 24 Feb 2013 Sandra wrote:
“By the MCB’s admission there is around 80% cremations so I fail to understand the reasoning for renewal. I have always advocated that the cemetery be:
(a) Closed for new graves.
(b) Open for burial in existing raves ie; family in with family to the limit of three as has been the practise.
(c) Open for cremations and the scattering/placement of ashes.
(d) If they must insist on new graves then the existing headstones stay insitu and the new ones are made SMALLER to fit in the area between. This would mean the surrounds would have to go from existing graves.”
Once upon a time, the general public had trouble making their collective voice heard but technology, and the “social media” has changed all that. I urge you to sign the petitioon and pass the message on via any medium at your disposal: Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Pinterest etc.
You may think that Western Australia is much too far from you for your voice to make any difference, but it will, indeed it will. International exposure can work wonders in this “Global Community” of ours and tomorrow it could be your Ancestor’s gravesite being destroyed, or you child, or your brother/ sister’s …
If you wish to sign the peition, just click HERE
Finally, I must share Crissouli’s beautiful poem which reaches into my very soul.
GRANDMA’S FOUNDATION
I went to visit Grandma
Her stone it wasn’t there
I thought I made an error
But I did look everywhere
It was then I noticed rubble
Right against the fence
And a dumpster full of rubbish
It really was quite dense.
Then I saw my Grandma’s name
As if she was calling me
“Please help me darling granddaughter
Will you please help me be free
For crushing is the next step
Road base they say they need
I suspect that that is just a cover up
It all comes down to greed.
The land here’s rather valuable
I heard the workmen say
My lovely stone you saved for
Will be destroyed today.”
(c) Crissouli
Memorials in the dumpster with all the rubbish and ready for crushing…
“Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead, and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high deeds.” – William Gladstone
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Copyright © 2013. Catherine Ann Crout-Habel
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However, you can ask for an extension of time and these tips should help ease your way but firstly a word of warning. I tend to revert to my former “Junior Primary Teacher” habits and “over-explain”, so if I sound patronising, please forgive.
