“They must’ve used a sledgehammer.”
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Griffith City Council forcibly ripped rows of ornaments glued to graves at Griffith cemetery this week.
Tamara Floriana couldn’t find her mother’s tombstone today.
“I always look for that statue, but now it’s gone. It’s so hard to find among all the graves.”
An ugly glue stain now marks the spot on her mother’s grave where a concrete angel used to stand.
“I’m just devastated. I paid a fortune for it, but I justified it that’s it’s going to be years and years of appreciation.”
It’s another emotional blow from Ms Floriana, who lost her husband to suicide last year.
And it’s the latest controversy in the ongoing saga over council’s prohibition of ornaments at the cemetery.
Ms Floriani’s 11-year-old niece Michaela Oldham also noticed her uncle’s grave had glued items taken away.
“There was a horse there. It’s gone. It’s so sad,” she said.
Sharon Maree Brown said when her mum went to visit her grandparents grave, she noticed pots and flowers missing.
Phil King, Council director of infrastructure and operations, confirmed the removals.
“Notification has been placed on Section 4 and 5 of the Lawn cemetery and staff are working methodically through each section removing items and placing them in storage,” he said.
“A phone number (all hours) is provided on the notice to allow family members to contact the cemetery team leader to discuss suitability of items on the grave. To date, the majority of conversations have been positive and family members have been cooperative and understanding.”
Mr King said he and his staff are willing to meet any family members at the cemetery to discuss council's management of ornaments.
Ms Brown said her mum’s been back to the cemetery office twice [to get the pots] and no one has been there.
She said she was told items would be destroyed or given to charity if not collected before a deadline.
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“Even if I get it back, it’s damaged. The must’ve used a sledgehammer or a saw,” Ms Floriani said.
“I can understand removing loose items, but this has been glued down, it’s not causing any harm.”
Asked whether the safety risks of leaving ornaments on graves outweigh the emotional damage removing items does to families, Mr King’s response was as follows:
“Council takes the work health safety of its staff and the public very seriously. Council had previously extended some leniency in the embellishment of graves, however, this over time, has led to more and more unsuitable items being placed on graves. Council is now having to be proactively consistent with what is placed on all graves especially in the Lawn Cemetery.”
Ms Brown said she can’t understand why flowers and pots which were “no danger to anyone” had to be removed.