Showing respect in graves clean-up
Walking down a long line of headstones, the women’s voices are quiet but clear as they seemingly address people who are nowhere to be seen.
“Excuse me,” one says, as she walks over a grave.
“Sorry,” the other says, as she does the same.
It is a sign of respect, they explain — something that is very much a part of the practical work they do as grave cleaners at the Waikumete Cemetery in Glen Eden, West Auckland.
On any given day you can find Pania Hall and Kelly Reichardt there.
Opened in the late 1800s, it is the final resting place for up to 70,000 people and one of the biggest cemeteries in the Southern Hemisphere.
“We do it because it’s an honour to do it. These people deserve to be cared for as well,” Reichardt says.
The pair are part of the Friends of Waikumete charity — a small group of locals who work throughout the year to raise funds for various projects at the cemetery.
One day a while ago, while in an old section of the cemetery, the two friends noticed several graves were covered in overgrown grass.
Reichardt said: “We sort of thought: ‘What if we cleaned this grave? That would come up really nice if we cleaned that’.” In less than a year, they have cleaned and restored several graves in some of the oldest parts of the cemetery.
They are allowed to regularly clean graves that are more than 60 years old. For others, they seek permission from that person’s family — many of whom are glad to give it.
Their work has involved researching the kinds of cleaning products that are okay to use so as not to damage headstones. Their kits in- clude gloves, large scrubbers, buckets and a special moss and mould cleaner they describe as a lifesaver.
Old toothbrushes also helped them hugely, Hall said, holding up a beaten up, grubby toothbrush.
“Good old Colgate, man,” she laughed.
To donate to Friends of Waikumete or to inquire about a grave to be cleaned, for a donation, contact: facebook.com/friendsofwaikumetegravecleaning/