It is said there are only two certainties in life — death and taxes. Well, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has a certain way of ensuring that adage is perpetuated.
My father, who recently died, wished to be reunited with his wife and our mother and have her ashes placed with him in his casket for burial at Innes Gardens Cemetery.
On discussing this with a local funeral director, we were informed that the placement of ashes in a casket would incur a cost in the order of $1000 in addition to the standard costs. There would also be additional costs for inscription on a plaque.
These costs were confirmed in writing via a Council schedule of fees and subsequently by the funeral invoice with a fee for a double ‘right of burial’.
I find this cost (being for absolutely no service provided) to be obscene and immoral.
Name and address withheld
