Graveyard grievance
GROUNDS FOR CONCERN AT BELLBRAE CEMETERY
WORK is desperately needed at the Bellbrae cemetery as families of loved ones buried at the site despair over its overgrown state.
Marlee Hickman buried her mother in the cemetery more than 2½ years ago and visits the site every week.
She hoped it would be a fitting place for her Mum to rest, but had noticed the state of the grounds slowly deteriorating.
“I try and go out there weekly, and I’ve never seen anyone ever working at the grounds,” she said. “In the last 18 months, it’s gotten worse and worse, which has been really upsetting because I’ve got my Mum out there.
“You see cemeteries in Geelong that are so well kept, that’s all I want for Bellbrae.”
Many on the popular Surf Coast Community Noticeboard Facebook page shared her desire to see the site cleaned up.
“My late husband is buried out at Bellbrae and I am quite disgusted by the state of the cemetery,” one woman com- mented, thanking Ms Hickman for highlighting the problem and campaigning for action.
The 153-year-old cemetery is run by a private trust and managed by a board of six, with five new trustees expected to join in the coming months.
Board member Keith Grossman said a transition in the weeding program was the reason growth at the site had “gotten a little bit away from us”.
“I am aware that the cemetery needs a tidy-up, which will be completed,” he said.
“The state of the cemetery is not declining, it’s gotten away from us a little bit in the last month or so, but it’s not that bad. We are transitioning into a different type of weeding program, some of the weeds have gotten away a little bit in that process, but we can pick up on that with work expected within two weeks.”
Mr Grossman promised a “great improvement” in that time. The trust is planning to organise a subcommittee to stay on top of works.
Ms Hickman has called on those in the community who would be willing to give up a few hours to participate in a cemetery working bee each month. The idea has gained strong support, with a Facebook group Bellbrae Cemetery Working Bee attracting 35 members in less than 24 hours.
“The cemetery is where many of our loved ones are at rest and it would be amazing if we could all chip in once a month to assist in keeping it a pleasant and tranquil place to visit,” Ms Hickman said.
Mr Grossman said any volunteer work would need to be supervised by a trustee but was open to discussing the idea.