Cemetery Maintenance

[CableGuy]

Is there anyone interested in forming a group of people interested in doing some tidying up and general maintenance at the Jamestown Cemetery, perhaps a short working bee every 3 months would suffice. I often do a emu walk around the cemetery, but it does not take much of a wind to blow flowers and old wreaths about, row markers need installing which have been knocked over, dead trees which are lying about need to be cleaned up, old concrete etc scattered around needs to be removed, there is plenty of small jobs which could be done to keep the place in shape. It is amazing how many visitors to the town go to the cemetery these days. If you are interested - let me know, and I will get something organized.

[Ray]

You can count me in.

I have always enjoyed pottering around down there. You be surprised how many visitors remark about how well kept our cemetery is, but as you say, there is certainly room for a bit of help. Getting rid of the occasional patches of caltrop, ant nests, rubbish and general tidying up.

[Fonchie]

I popped into the Jamestown Cemetery today, with my lovely lady, and must say how pleasantly surprised we were with many different aspects that the local community has been working on within the grounds. We noticed that many graves have been marked with small engraved plaques identifying those whom have been interned and never had a permanent memorial erected to them. Obviously a lot of family restoration has also taken place with several of the older sites refurbished, many new trees are being established, a information board, and we also noticed many graves with small white crosses on them, and a chap whom was also visiting the cemetery, informed us that your local signman does this as a donation to the community, until the plot has a permanent headstone erected on it - a wonderful gesture. As a relative new comer to Oz, welldone chaps & ladies on all of the above. I believe the condition of ones cemetery is a reflection on the community.

[Ray]

I'm very pleased to hear that others notice these things

Yes, there are quite a number of people who do a little bit in the cemetery. Many years ago I computerised the Burial Records and spent many hours walking about down there and it certainly surprised me how many people do small jobs down there.  Several months ago i was driving past and saw two private citizens who had taken it upon themselves to clean and paint the Cemetery gates and posts, and was pleasantly surprised to learn that one of those people also makes small crosses bearing the names of those recently buried so visitors can find new graves.

Over the last 12 months, we've had a phantom tree planter who also waters them in the dead of night (I think) because I've never seen him/her coming or going.

Then of course there are the Service Clubs. Jamestown Lions Club made and placed the concrete blocks and paid to have them labeled, (an ongoing project as finances allow) and i think it was Probus and the Local History group who organised the new Notice board and directory (the Council paid for the board and provided the labour to erect it.  There are probably others as well as I often see evidence that someone has cleaned up weeds or replaced Row markers etc.

Many visitors used to ask if I found it a morbid place to work, but no,... it has taught me more about my town and the people who have lived here, than the other 50 years combined. They are a very easy to get on with, lot down there.

Several years ago there was a veritable rush of new markers on old graves and old headstones being refurbished, I think it coincided with a resurgence in interest in Family Trees, This kept me busy recording the details of new work and even with the help of one of our local Monumental masons, I still think I've probably missed a few,... He's another man who does little repairs and and tidy ups without anybody realising.

One day he had to mix just a small amount of concrete to finish a job, but instead, he asked his off-sider to mix a large batch and make a small plinth for a previously broken headstone on a child's grave. It probably never cost him a lot, but it took the two of them another hour or more to complete by the time it was boarded up, poured and given a troweling, he took the time to made sure it was a neat and workman like job.   He later told me that it saddened him to see that broken headstone to a small child just laying on the ground. (Grave BR06, William John Lewis aged 3 months months, if you are interested).



I can remember at one stage when I was a kid, the dry grass was so high we used to crawl around making tunnels in it.

[Dykey]

We as kids use to be frightened of the place.
We were told that one gravestone in particular use to reflect an image if a torch was aimed at it.
We were never game enough to try.

[Ray]

We as kids use to be frightened of the place.
We were told that one gravestone in particular use to reflect an image if a torch was aimed at it.
We were never game enough to try.

Yep,... a story like that would have any kids terrified.

I'd just say that I didn't have a torch.

[Ray]

One of the things that really disturbs me is the number of beautiful large old headstones that are leaning badly.  many are quite thin and delicate and would never survive falling.

Unfortunately they are worth a large amount of money and almost irreplaceable, but what do you do? Firstly they belong to other families and because of their huge financial and historical value it would not be wise for anyone but those with either family ties or a great deal of expertise to touch them.

One has fallen in my time, and it is now in two pieces.



Several other headstones in the photo can be seen to be in a precarious state as well.

[Susie]

I thought the small name markers were a Lion's project!  Maybe it was Combined Services Clubs. They are good anyway.

[Ray]

Oooopps,.... My apologies, you are correct.

I have modified my original post to reflect that.