By Xavier Smerdon
A WERRIBEE couple has labelled the treatment of their daughter’s grave as “desecration”.
Kevin and Kerryn O’Brien visited their daughter Rebecca’s grave on 18 February to discover it covered in a thick layer of grass clippings after the area around it was mowed.
Rebecca passed away in 1998 when she was 13 from an asthma attack.
Kevin said he was heartbroken when he saw the state of the grave.
“It was just heartbreaking,” Mr O’Brien said.
“They should have had a blower going straight after they mowed it.
“It’s just a disgraceful effort.”
Mrs O’Brien said she could not believe how her daughter’s grave had been treated.
“I burst into tears when I saw that,” Mrs O’Brien said.
“If I had the money I would drag my daughter’s body out of there and put her somewhere else.”
The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust took over as manager of Werribee Cemetery in March last year.
GMCT CEO Liz Riley said recent poor weather was to blame for the state of the graves.
“We acknowledge that the current condition of our grounds is not at its usual standard,” Ms Riley said.
“The current condition has been caused by unusual weather conditions impacting our regular maintenance schedule.”
Ms Riley said additional equipment, including a ride-on mower, had been purchased and staff had been working additional hours.
To add insult to injury, it was Kevin’s birthday when he visited the cemetery last month.
“I’ve been going there every week for 13 years,” he said.
“I go there and I have a chat with her. I talk to her about everything that’s going on.
“I usually feel better when I leave there but this time I felt worse.”
