The trust that runs Pine Lodge Cemetery has apologised for causing “uncertainty and concern” after it removed flowers, mementos and memorials from grave sites at the facility last week.
Remembrance Park, which manages Pine Lodge and 10 other cemeteries across northern Victoria, released a statement on Tuesday, January 31, more than a week after items were removed from gravesides at Pine Lodge, sparking outcry.
Relatives who had family members buried at the cemetery last week said they were devastated by irreplaceable mementos being removed and thrown out without warning.
The trust last week defended its actions as in line with its “long-standing adornment policy”, but this week said it would consult more closely with families before making changes to grave sites.
Remembrance Park said it was “aware that its application of the adornment policy had caused uncertainty and concern to many families with loved ones interred at our cemeteries”.
“While our actions to date have been motivated by compliance with occupational health and safety laws, we recognise that we should have provided better support to families and communicated more widely before acting the way we did,” the trust said.
“Our policies on memorials on graves and memorial sites are designed to protect the health and safety of staff and visitors to our cemeteries, to help protect the environment and support the different cultural and religious needs of the wide range of people in Victorian communities.
“We also have a responsibility to families who want to decorate graves of their loved ones and we must do better to explain to families what is permitted and not permitted on interred sites.”
The trust said senior executives had met with some families to help modify adornments on graves and said it would “support any person or family who wants to work with us to navigate the rules to ensure they are compliant”.
“We look forward to working co-operatively with all Remembrance Park families and thank everyone for their input, support and patience as we restore the balance to ensure that the flower and ornament rules which allow visitors to place items at sites meet both our duty of care and families memorialising their loved ones.“
State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe joined the chorus slamming the trust for causing “pain and anguish” to grieving families and pressed Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas to act.
State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell this week called for the trust management to be sacked.
Ms O’Keeffe said it was vital that cemetery management approached the situation with compassion instead removing items without notice.
“I am devastated, this has caused so much heartache and pain to many people,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
Ms O’Keeffe said she had been contacted by individuals and families who had been affected, including Kath Hilton, whose son Mitchell passed away in May 2011, aged 16.
“Kath has complied with the rules around what could be displayed on headstones for 11 years at her son’s grave and believed what she had been doing had been acceptable,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“Kath was away for Christmas and returned to find Mitchell’s gravestone at Pine Lodge had been left bare, without any warning or correspondence from management.
“Cemetery management should understand families are grieving and an action like this would cause significant pain and anguish.”