Madison Gatti has thanked the community for piling on the pressure and convincing Griffith City Council to let her keep her father's grave plaque.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
RELATED:
The plaque was removed in 2018 for being made of granite instead of the council-mandated brass, and it was temporarily restored after Miss Gatti protested the removal.
Council have now agreed to let the plaque stay permanently after disgruntled residents sent in 46 strongly-worded submissions and a 200-signature petition.
From now on council will allow people to make their plaques out of granite, and many of Miss Gatti's friends, family, and well-wishers told her they plan to do just that.
Miss Gatti thanked the community for rallying behind her in such large numbers.
"The community have helped me keep dad's plaque," Miss Gatti said.
"It's very nice and I'm thankful and appreciative of everything they've done."
She gave special thanks to councillor Christine Stead for helping her navigate council's bureaucracy, and to council in general for listening to the will of the people.
"It can finally be let go," Miss Gatti said.
"It's a small change but it touches a lot of people, so I'm glad the councillors listened to what the people wanted."
The plaque had special meaning to Miss Gatti, who remembers her dad as a passionate cabinet-maker who loved working with granite.
Councillor Doug Curran said the changes were a long time coming, especially given how the cemetery management plan hadn't been updated in over a decade.
The cemetery plan hadn't been updated since 2009, and Cr Curran said those plans would undoubtedly be revisited in the future when council builds a second cemetery on Rifle Range Road.
There were other changes made to the cemetery management plan, including the option of shallow graves to be considered by council on a case-by-case basis upon consultation with NSW Public Health Unit.
Copies of the updated cemetery management plan are available from Griffith City Council.
READ MORE
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
