Considering country cemeteries

What do you think of when I mention the magnificent Great Lakes region of the mid-north coast of NSW? Dolphins frolicking in wonderful waterways? Tramping through fabulous forests? Lazing on long stretches of shimmering sand? Clambering up magical sand dunes separating the Pacific from the Broadwater at Mungo Brush? Fishing, boating, oyster eating? Well, let me share my day exploring the seven cemeteries of this beautiful midnorth coast playground.

Great Lakes Local Government area supports a population of 34,200. It claims a higher than average growth rate (21% last census) with a significant proportion of that population over 60 years. It is believed the majority of retirees are cremated or buried locally as local funeral directors conduct relatively few burials outside the area.

Quite near Great Lakes Council (GLC) head office you'll find Forster General Cemetery, first established in1870, and dedicated on 7 April 1894. It was classified by the National Trust (NSW) in 1983 and boasts a brilliant bushland setting. At sunrise lofty trees allow filtered light to fall gently across the graves. Headstones reach up between remarkable gums, which must surely have grown since the monuments were erected.

Practically all graves lie on a northfacing slope and signage is mounted on outstanding boulders sourced locally. Unique to GLC cemeteries and, in fact, rare in most Australian cemeteries, is the Aboriginal Section. Until the mid 1990's, the local Aboriginal Land Council dug graves themselves. However, Occupational Health & Safety legislation led to Council staff now carrying out this work. GLC is presently working with the Forster Local Aboriginal Land Council (ALC) on the mapping of the sites, many of which lie unmarked. GLC & ALC have a funding submission lodged to beautify the area with seating, footpaths, logs and interpretive signs.

Might I recommend if visiting this location that you take your mosquito repellent!

A picturesque route via The Lakes Way (in need of some repair) twists, turns and trails the shores of Wallis, Smith and Myall Lakes before you strike the rather isolated cemetery at Bungwahl. Previously I've observed this as a well kempt amenity. This trip, however, the graves reached up through longish lawns

What's unique to Bungwahl Cemetery (perched on land jointly owned by the Catholic and Presbyterian Churches) is that the Bungwahl Cemetery Trust administers and maintains the grounds. GLC assisted the Trust with the purchase of a digger and a pre-fab storage shed, but local volunteers carry out bookings and the grave digging.

I continued my delightful drive through marvellous forests to General Cemetery. Remote from GLC headquarters, this quiet country facility is managed on a day-to-day basis by the local administrator, Mr Jim Richards, who is paid an annual honorarium. Until the late 1990's, cemetery records were kept in simple exercise books, carefully compiled and preserved by Mr Richards and his family for over 50 years. These particulars are now included on the GLC database in Forster. Though mainly monumental, a newish lawn cemetery blends easily into the older sections of this cemetery. 1871 was the earliest headstone I could read.

You enter neighbouring Coolongolook General Cemetery along a gravel road. Its unique feature is the vast tract of untouched land. Some headstones sit such a distance from other memorials that they appear ostracised or, perhaps, particularly privileged. To provide additional choice of burial types to this community, submissions for a columbarium wall at Coolongolook Cemetery are being considered.

At the Tea Gardens General Cemetery they have obviously been effected by the constraints of insufficient funding, sandy soil, the inability to get water to the grounds, and an extremely high water table. GLC are planning the purchase of land for a new cemetery site to meet the needs of this growing population for the next 50-100 years.

The diversity of cemeteries in rural centres is as striking as are the differences to their city counterparts. Generally, space is at a premium yet Tea Gardens Cemetery defies this notion. Originally situated on the outskirts of town, recent rapid development now finds it nestled alongside prime real estate, quite close to the town centre. Land prices are skyrocketing in this alluring part of the world, squeezed between the azure waters of Port Stephens, beaches and the Myall River. Wow, no wonder the grey-haired set flock here in great numbers! With only 8 10 year's life remaining in this particular cemetery, the battle to locate land for future cemetery needs continues.

Despite the difficulties confronting Tea Gardens Cemetery, its unique feature is two tin headstones in memory of persons deceased in 1916 and 1898! Though perhaps not actually erected in those years, they certainly look aged. Who'd have imagined this metal would endure so close to salt water?

During my travels I observed headstones face east in this Council. When queried, GLC Manager of Community Services, Mr Andrew Braybrook was unable to confirm why? Personal research provided only suggests:

• to meet surveying requirements
• to protect headstones from prevailing winds … a way of preserving carvings;
• headstones in churchyards are frequently lined up to east/west with the inscription engraved either side to ensure it can be read by people entering the church;
• simply, tradition in older cemeteries;
• headstones face east towards Jerusalem; or
• all headstones face east - to Mecca

In fact, in all GLC cemeteries you'll discover only one grave facing west - in Stroud General Cemetery. Until the early 1970's Stroud was the administrative centre for the surrounding district. The State government recognised the increasing importance of coastal towns at that time. It re-named the local government area Great Lakes and subsequently Council relocated the administrative centre to Forster. Stroud Cemetery is another wellsurveyed and spacious domain. In 2000 the GLC and the Stroud Lions Club jointly constructed the Stroud Memorial Gardens again to provide choice to the community.

However, it's the Memorial Gardens at Tuncurry General Cemetery, which really knocked me out! I felt I was in a parkland! Not more than a decade after establishment, individually named plots (Grevillea, Erica, Boronia, Frangipani, etc) beautifully safeguard ashes and plaques, while providing a peaceful precinct for bereaved families.

Tuncurry Cemetery is earmarked as a Regional Cemetery and certainly stands out as the showpiece of the district. Together with the spectacular memorial gardens, it has it all!

• Land to expand and informative noticeboards
• Traditional memorials - earliest identified grave is that of Robert Hutchinson in 1883
• Other ashes options include:
• columbarium walls (accessed between enchanting rows of white roses)
• inscriptions only “on the Wings of a Butterfly”
• a memorial plaque specifically for the still born
• family ashes gardens to be available in 2006
• Colourful hedges dividing well-manicured lawns (introduced in 1975/6)
• Significant new planting along the main road and leafy avenues

I was not surprised to read words of praise in the local papers that week thanking “the personnel responsible for the beautiful effort they have displayed in the work done at our Tuncurry cemetery.”

As sole cemetery operator in the 3373 sq k local area, Mr Braybrook comments, “it's hard in the bush”. However, membership of The Cemeteries and Crematoria Association of NSW has been invaluable. He's learned a great deal from full-time professionals. The benefit of interaction with members has assisted in both planning and routine cemetery operations. Similarly, he sings the praises of professional journals such as “ACCA News” (produced by the Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association) and “For Peace of Mind”.