Considering Cemeteries By Jackie O'Neill

How much do you know about cemeteries? It is only following the death of a precious member of our own circle that most of us give any thought to them. In Australia, the rules governing cemeteries differ from state to state. In Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, all cemeteries are State owned and administered. In Queensland and New South Wales, there are four types of cemetery ownership:

• Lands Department
• Council
• Private
• Australian War Graves

The general consensus of my family and friends when asked what they knew about cemeteries was: “Nothing. I’ll wait till the time gets a little closer.” Our optimism for life is wonderful. Or, is it fear and ignorance that causes us to defer thoughts of our own demise? We plan our holidays, our children’s schooling, our house renovations and our retirement. Why not plan our funerals? Some of us do. Earlier this year Princess Margaret made her preferences quite clear. She stipulated a simple cremation rather than a burial, the location, the type of service and those she’d like to attend.

The Chinese and Italians are predisposed to plan; they often make substantial investments in burial sites, such as purchasing a number of plots alongside each other. The Italians build very expensive mausolea or vaults. In the Jewish faith when a spouse dies, the widow/er will often buy the adjoining gravesite. Yet, traditionally, Australians give little thought to death or cemeteries. For instance, very few of us realise that Sydney is home to the largest cemetery in the southern hemisphere, Rookwood, which boasts 777 acres and has been in operation since 1867.

How we choose a cemetery
• An existing affiliation (a relative buried there, or pre-purchase
has occurred)
• Advice from friends, family or social workers (at a hospital)
• Attendance at a funeral and
aesthetic appeal
• Funeral directors’ guidance (common with unprepared customers)
• Location, proximity to home for
visiting purposes (in both life and death location is important!)
We are not overly concerned about travelling to a cemetery provided it suits our purpose. If however, location is important, price does not appear to be an issue. Customers judge value for money in relation to aspect, landscaping and maintenance.

Future directions in cemeteries
Mr Ross Davis, Chairman of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Association of NSW, with 24 years experience working in this field, raised the point that pre-planning is often a cheaper option than arranging a funeral at need. He states: “Land available for cemeteries in Sydney and metropolitan areas is becoming increasingly limited, and in the not too distant future will be completely used. People will have little option but to arrange cremations or be buried in outer-lying suburbs, or even west of the Blue Mountains.

“In some states, Right of Burial is sold with ‘renewable tenure’. This means one of two things: either the existing owners of the Right of Burial have the opportunity of renewing their licence in a certain number of years (usually 40-50), or, alternatively, if there is no interested party remaining, the licence can then, under certain circumstances, be sold.
“There are huge benefits to the community where land is able to be re-used – a cemetery will continue as a viable concern, and land will be available for use by future generations. South Australia introduced ‘renewable tenure’ when their cemeteries were first opened. They are now experiencing the benefits of this foresight.” That’s a worry! Land shortages affecting us in both life and death.

Conclusions
Take the time to learn more about this industry. Mr Davis says: “It is better to tour cemeteries and crematoria at a time when (people) are not grief stricken, in order to best compare and appreciate the facilities.” With this in mind I’ve embarked on a series of cemetery visits. I propose visiting all types of cemeteries, large and small, both publicly and privately owned. You are invited to explore them with me and perhaps better prepare yourself and your family for that last journey.
Next time it could be your neighbourhood cemetery or crematorium I appraise!

Macquarie Park

As I swept up the curved driveway to the main office, Macquarie Park revealed itself to me as a large parkland, with many striking sculptures dotted around the landscape.I was oblivious to noises from the busy M2 or Delhi Road, both bordering Macquarie Park. The magnificent foliage had a soothing effect with eucalypts, jacarandas, palms, and brush box plentiful throughout the grounds, obscuring nearby industrial areas. I was at peace in the city and only 13km from Sydney’s CBD. The first burial at Macquarie Park Cemetery was not until 1922. Formerly known as Northern Suburbs Cemetery, cortèges often confused this venue with the neighbouring Northern Suburbs Crematorium (a kilometre along Delhi Road). The unnecessary stress to both staff and customers prompted the name change in 1999. To date, over 120 000 burials have taken place amidst this beautiful 160 acres. There remains however, an anticipated life for burials of only 30 years. The site also embraces niche walls and a number of rose gardens for cremated remains. There are 15 000 roses here, flowering between October and March. Quite a spectacle!

Peaceful surroundings, efficient service
To assist my understanding of the options available to bereaved families, Mr Ross Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie Park, welcomed me. A fabulous port-cochere at the administrative centre provides sheltered access for funeral vehicles and funeral directors, and parking is ample. A coffee shop, open to the public six days a week, provides refreshments and light meals between 9am and 4pm. Beautiful function rooms, with vast floor-to-ceiling glass walls and doors opening to peaceful surroundings, cater for up to 400 people at after-service gatherings. The administrative offices also feature splendid backdrops through their high, wide windows. The offices are light, spacious and modern, yet extremely functional. In the foyer stands a tasteful display cabinet of memorial urns and plaques, together with brochures and related literature. These striking new premises were opened 12 months ago by Local Member, Mr John Watkins.

What does Macquarie Park offer its customers? “Well,” says Ross, “it enables loved ones to celebrate a life.” Lawn burials, traditional monumental sites, Gethsemane and the Way of the Cross are all areas allocated for various religious denominations to share. In addition, there is a fully secure mausoleum for 260 interments and other above-ground burial crypts and vaults, often preferred by the Italian community. Though pre-planning for the purchase of graves is promoted, Macquarie Park does not have an aggressive sales policy. As in most cemeteries, traditional war graves scattered throughout the monumental sections are easily identified. Though a little difficult to locate, because of a common theme used for bronze plaques, the familiar regimental service emblem identifies war graves in the lawn sections.

Community Spirit
To cater for the public’s additional expectations for cremation facilities, a new crematorium is proposed on site within the next 12 months. A recreational area for children will be incorporated. This will allow parents to attend a cremation and/or the function rooms with less stress. Many people need reassurance about activities behind the scenes, particularly with cremations. Once functioning, Macquarie Park will initiate a number of ‘open days’ to allow visitors to increase their knowledge and understanding of the cremation process. Macquarie Park continues to forge greater associations with funeral directors. “We have the same customer, and as such, it is essential that we work together to ensure their needs are completely satisfied,” says Mr Davis. I was impressed to learn the degree of community spirit which exists at Macquarie Park:

• Special religious days are observed
  
  
• 800 people regularly attend the Mass on All Souls Day
  
  
• Palm Sunday is celebrated at the Stations of the Cross
  
  
• A Mothers Day memorial service is conducted on the vast terrace of the Administrative Centre
  
  
• Local school groups are hosted
  
  
• Staff and customers contribute to Cancer Research at Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
  
  
• 25 vehicles/vans, evacuated from adjacent Lane Cove River National Park during the January 2002 bushfires, parked at Macquarie Park
  
  
• Members of North Ryde RSL Sub-Branch attend a number of ceremonies during the year at their specially built area for the placement of cremated remains

Passive recreation is encouraged. You can meditate, stroll, jog or cycle along the paths and roadways, or just simply ‘stop and smell the roses’. Though the staff maintain the lawns, buildings and roadways, the preservation of monuments is the responsibility of owners. History is there for the taking from these wonderful headstones, so varied in shape, size, colour and texture. The public is invited to inspect the various features of Macquarie Park. Music is unusual at graveside, although families sometimes bring a tape recorder or a friend strums a guitar. The proposed cremation chapels will also be utilized as chapels for burial services prior to moving graveside. This will permit access to the proposed upmarket audio/visual facilities to be incorporated in the new facility.

You can inspect Macquarie Park at www.maccem.com.au and examine a site map. The types of services provided, and the areas available for purchase are detailed online. Macquarie Park prides itself with a well-managed, maintained and secure site. Take a look at various aspectsof the cemetery or locate your ancestors by searching the burial records. At this stage it is not possible to make bookings direct via the Internet. On this, my first cemetery visit, a theme had quickly emerged: be prepared, or in industry terminology ‘pre-plan’. Ross Davis comments: “I suspect it will be a while before Mr & Mrs Public are happy to purchase direct from the web. Most people like to inspect a site before purchase, and we encourage our customers to do so. We are energetically working on a touch-screen which will be accessible at the front door, where visitors will be able to determine the grave site position they are after with the touch of a few buttons whether the office is open or not. Join me next issue when I explore another Australian cemetery.