A MOVE to get tough on “tributes and trinkets” at the Gunnedah Memorial Park Cemetery has led to a protest.
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Gunnedah Shire Council has advertised asking people to take away excess tributes at the cemetery before Friday or they will be removed by council staff.
The crackdown – which is in line with council’s existing floral tributes at Memorial Park Cemetery policy – has caused a wave of protest on social media, with a protest planned at the cemetery at 9.30am on Friday.
A petition headed “Help protect our loved ones’ resting place” is circulating in Gunnedah.
“Council are wanting to remove any tributes and trinket items that may interfere with maintenance at Memorial Park Cemetery by January 30, 2015,” the petition says.
“We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge our leaders to act now to stop the council from removing mementoes from our loved ones’ resting place.”
A number of graves at the cemetery are completely covered with tributes including flowers, vases, flags, windmills and statues. Some are a tangle of grass where council staff have been unable to mow because of the tributes.
Council’s general manager Eric Groth said the council was committed to maintaining the cemetery.
“The decision for any council to limit the tributes is not an easy one to make and requires a balancing of the head and the heart to ensure the most appropriate outcome is achieved for the ongoing maintenance of the cemetery and to ensure the highest standard of reverence for all grave owners and visitors,” Mr Groth said.
“The growing number of tributes placed on graves and in some instances the weathered condition of the tributes has been a maintenance concern for some time and has made it difficult for caretakers to mow the grounds without risking damage to keepsakes placed on graves and to machinery.
“Glass also represents a risk to public safety and the safety of caretakers.
“It is acknowledged that the removal of tributes is extremely sensitive and this is why grave owners and visitors have been provided notice so that they may remove their own tributes.”
Mr Groth said the number of tributes had continued to increase.
He said the policy restricted people to two vases or containers for each grave, which should be placed in the opening provided in the monument.
The policy also requires the removal of old tributes and wreaths.
A copy of council’s advertisement posted on the Facebook site The People’s Voice in Gunnedah prompted a wave of responses against the move.
The responses included a suggestion for the community to help tidy the graves once a week.
Mr Groth said caretakers would remove any remaining non-compliant tributes after this Friday, with any valuable items stored at the park for collection by the owners.
The policy is included on www.infogunnedah.com.au
Mr Groth said anyone who wanted further information about the tribute standards could contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s customer service team on 6740 2100 or email a request to council@infogunnedah.com.au