Families face loss as cemetery removes tributes
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The Bunbury Cemetery Board in Western Australia ordered families to remove tributes and markers from gravesites within 28 days, upsetting those who maintain the memorials.
The board sent letters last month announcing a grave site audit and citing a need for safety and tidiness. Denise Thornborough and her family created a memorial for their daughter, Linda McDonald, with handmade items after being unable to afford a headstone.
They spent a night removing the tributes before the deadline, leaving the gravesite empty. The cemetery board, a state government authority, explained it must follow long-standing by-laws and ensure the cemetery is safe for staff and visitors. Kristy Constantine, the board’s chief executive, stated they cannot grant exceptions because they use machinery for upkeep. Families expressed confusion about the timing of the order, as some tributes had remained undisturbed for over a decade.
Peter Trenerry also received a notice to remove a statue from his son’s grave, which he and his wife purchased when they could not afford a more elaborate headstone. A petition to change the cemetery’s by-laws has gained nearly 800 signatures as families push for a reconsideration of the regulations. The board acknowledged the distress caused but maintains compliance with the rules is necessary.
