Mourners can visit loved ones at graves in locked down NSW, authorities say

Distraught families have welcomed the decision by NSW Health to allow a Sydney cemetery to open its gates again, after it was closed last week.

Thousands of families have welcomed the decision by NSW Health to allow people to visit the grave of a loved one during lockdown, after mourners were turned away by security guards.

Rookwood Cemetery — the largest in the southern hemisphere — last week closed one of its main entrances to the burial grounds and hired private security guards to ensure people did not enter.

It followed NSW police patrolling the cemetery after recent breaches of funerals exceeding NSW Health’s 10-person mandate.

However, a NSW Health spokesperson said under the public health order, cemeteries are not required to close.

“People are also permitted to leave home for compassionate reasons. In certain circumstances, such as an anniversary of a deceased child, or where a close family member has recently died, visiting a gravesite would be considered compassionate,” a spokesperson said.

Inside Rookwood cemetery. Picture: Supplied

“A group of people who live in the same house may gather outdoors. Otherwise, outdoor gatherings are limited to two people. Masks must be worn outdoors in declared areas.”

But Rookwood cemetery has confirmed they will now be opening there gates to allow people wanting to visit the grave of a loved one, after we revealed on Tuesday mourners were being banned .

The backflip came after NSW Police initially gave the cemetery the orders to close on Monday, only allowing entry to workers, people exercising or attending a funeral.

A spokesman for Rookwood cemetery said they never wanted to prevent families from visiting their loved ones, and welcomed the news they will now be able to open.

One of the thousands who were affected by the initial decision is Sydney DJ Natasha Georges.

Having lost her mother a few years ago, and left to be the sole carer and provider for her grandmother, Ms Georges says her grief has been compounded after hearing she could no longer visit her mum’s grave.

“During these difficult times, the cemetery has always been the only place I can go and feel closer to my mum when I’m upset,” Ms Georges said.

Sydney DJ Natasha Georges, 24, who lost her mother says it has been difficult not being able to visit her mum’s grave at Rookwood cemetery. Picture: Supplied

“She’s already missing out of my life and for me going there, it’s the only way that helps me with whatever is going on in my head and my life.

“For me to go and honour my mother’s memory by lighting a candle, burning incense and praying it gives me hope that I am letting my mother rest and not forget her memory.”

The 24-year-old said visiting the cemetery at least every two days was more about letting her mum know she’s “still thinking about her” and “how much I love her”.

“I understand there is Covid-19 and we need restrictions, but the government doesn’t care or respect the mental health of people,” she said.

“We already can't see those who died … they’re already gone. Why stop us now? The virus isn’t transmissible in the air.

“How am I going to contract Covid-19 from the dead. It’s just morally wrong, unethical and unfair.”

For mother-of-four Ghada Chreideh, who lost her 19-year-old son in a car accident last year, the harsh restrictions meant she wasn’t able to place flowers on the grave of her son for what would’ve been his 20th birthday last Sunday.

Mother-of-four Ghada Chreideh lost her 19-year-old son Ali in a car accident last year. Picture: Supplied

Ghada Chreideh, who lost her 19-year-old son Ali in a car accident last year, says the harsh restrictions meant she wasn’t able to place flowers on the grave of her son for what would’ve been his 20th birthday last Sunday. Picture: Supplied

“Ever since my son passed away I’ve felt nothing but pain, emptiness and depression,” she said.

“I visit the cemetery almost everyday to pray for my son. When I visit him I feel at peace, I feel happy and sometimes I feel presence of him.

“When they recently announced that the cemetery will be closing due to the lockdown I felt so sad, hurt and overwhelmed with emotions.

“On my son’s birthday I didn’t even get to visit him, to wish him happy birthday or to put him flowers. The pain and suffering I went through on that day was unbelievable.”

Angelique Jasli, who lives opposite the cemetery, said it was deeply “gut-wrenching” seeing people reach the gates completely unaware about the new rules, only to be turned away by security and police.

Mrs Jasli started a change.org petition on the weekend, which has since reached nearly 10,000 signatures, urging the government to include visiting a grave as a reasonable excuse to leave your home under compassionate reasons.

Angelique Jasli has started a petition, which has reached over 9000 signatures, calling on the NSW government to consider visiting a grave or a loved one to be listed as a “reasonable excuse” to leave the home. Picture: Supplied

Police and security are actively patrolling Rookwood cemetery, issuing fines to anyone found to be in breach of the public health orders. Picture: Supplied

“In a time where people in our community are the most vulnerable, afraid and isolated that they have ever been before, to close Rookwood Cemetery visits has an enormous impact on the mental health of people who have lost loved ones and find peace only by visiting and caring for their graves,” Mrs Jasli said.

“Since starting the petition on the weekend, I have been flooded with messages of families losing a loved one and I can't see them after being turned away.”

Police have been actively patrolling and issuing fines to anyone found to be in breach of the public health orders at Rookwood cemetery. The measures will be reviewed in a month’s time.

However, Mrs Jasli said putting a “blanket rule” without exceptions isn't fair.

“There are other cemeteries still open. And for people who bury their kids, husbands or wives today cannot see them tomorrow to begin the grieving process. That’s absolutely not right,” she said.