By Vanessa Chircop
HOBSONS Bay City Council will contact the Greater Metropolitan Trust Cemeteries seeking an explanation about the poor conditions at the Altona Memorial Park.
As reported by Star on 1 March, when former Mayor Dick Murdoch visited his wife’s memorial in February he found that it had been completely covered by an overgrown plant.
Williamstown Ward councillor Angela Altair, whose father is also buried at the park, told the council that Mr Murdoch was not the only resident with concerns about the condition of the park.
“I must say I was moved when I read the plight of former Mayor Mr Dick Murdoch’s sad position relating to dear Angela, his late wife,” Cr Altair said.
Cr Altair said that her mother had expressed similar concerns to her recently.
“My mother said that she went to put flowers on my late auntie’s grave and she couldn’t find it, it was so overgrown – so obviously this is an increasing problem,” she said.
“I understand that one of reasons it’s falling into such decline is because once they had something like 15 full time people working at the park and now that’s dwindled down to three.
“So it’s no wonder they’re facing these types of problems.
“I think it’s unfortunate and disappointing that our citizens have to go to the press to try and get some action.”
Cr Altair said it was important that council advocate on behalf of residents to seek a remedy for this problem.
“Hopefully we can get some action.”
The Greater Metropolitan Trust Cemeteries was established on 1 March 2010 as a consequence of amendments to the Act, enabling the consolidation of eight existing cemetery trusts into one.
These include locations in Altona, Anderson’s Creek, Fawkner, Keilor, Lilydale, Preston, Templestowe and Wyndham.
A review of the Trust will be conducted this month.
More reports – Page 10
