By Vanessa Chircop
WHEN Dick Murdoch visited his late wife Angela’s memorial last month on her anniversary what he found left him distraught.
The former Mayor of Hobsons Bay found his wife’s plaque at the Altona Memorial Park completely covered by an overgrown and “unsuitable” plant.
A month earlier, Mr Murdoch had reported the problem to office staff at the park only to find that nothing had been done to rectify it by her anniversary.
Mr Murdoch told Star his wife’s anniversary is always a sad occasion but was made worse by the state in which he found her memorial.
“I just lost it,” he said.
“In January when I came, I saw it was starting to grow over so I went and reported it – I know the ladies in the office and I’m sure they passed it on but nothing’s happened,” he said.
Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust CEO Liz Riley said the complaint made by Mr Murdoch in January was not recorded due to an oversight in their feedback management process.
Ms Riley apologised for the mistake and last Friday the plant was pruned.
Mr Murdoch said he was happy to hear the plant would be pruned but would like to see it removed so it doesn’t happen again.
“Not just mine,” he said. “I think they should take them all out… they’re not the appropriate plant for this setting.”
