The Bight Cemetery: Flattened grave stones yet to be repaired after 2019 council works

A man who says 16 family graves were desecrated as a result of local council action has shared his story.

A man who says 16 family graves were desecrated by a local council, shocking and angering a small community on the Mid-North Coast, is still deeply troubled by what took place.

Scott Stewart was born and bred in the Taree and Wingham area and, like many of the families impacted, the first he heard of what happened at The Bight Cemetery in July 2019 was from people who noticed the destruction and started spreading the news.

In total, 59 headstones were “laid down” out of safety concerns by the council at the cemetery just out of Wingham on the way to Tinonee.

“It was like rape, I felt violated,” Mr Stewart said. “They didn’t use correct tools or procedures. If it had a lean, they knocked it over.”

In an attempt to channel some of his anger he established the Blight of The Bight community group and Facebook page.

One of the stones 'laid down' in June 2019 remains broken on the ground at The Bight Cemetery. Picture: Janine Watson

Using Mid-Coast Council’s preferred wording, the stones were “laid over” at The Bight Cemetery due to safety concerns, prompted in part by the death of three-year-old Sydney girl Indy Lee Henderson after a monument fell and crushed her at The Black Head Bowling Club in November 2016.

The inquest into her death heard a boy was “riding the monument like a horse” during a birthday celebration for Indy‘s grandmother when it fell and that the poor foundation was to blame.

The historic Bight Cemetery on the Manning River between Wingham and Tinonee. Picture: Janine Watson.

Council has since apologised for their actions at The Bight, named after the unusual bend in the nearby Manning River, and developed a restoration action plan for the cemetery but locals say progress has been painfully slow and many grave stones lie broken on the ground.

Council has also agreed to pay for the rectification work and apologised for the delays so far.

A progress report on the restoration was presented to councillors at a recent meeting but impacted family members like Tim Crossley say it can’t be called a “progress report” as there was no time frame for the work.

“This isn’t a plan, it’s just words on paper with no timeline,” Mr Crossley said. “The headstones weren’t even placed properly on the ground on an angle, and with all this wet weather they’re covered in three years worth of mould.”

Scott Stewart with one of the grave stones crudely pieced back together. Picture: Janine Watson.

Mr Crossley’s wife is a descendant of the well-known Bird family and the monument to pioneers William and Elizabeth Bird was impacted in council’s operation.

“It was a monumental cock up – there was no notification about what was going on and there has been an ongoing lack of empathy with impacted families ever since,” he said.

The recent report presented to councillors outlines various reasons for the delay including the presence of the threatened Pale Yellow Doubletail ground orchid. This means mowing and maintenance works such as weed removal, spraying and headstone replacement can’t be carried out during the months of September, October or November each year.

Another limiting factor is the lack of stonemasons to carry out the work.

The one local stonemason who had been working on the graves has refused to continue to work for the council.

Another stonemason identified in council’s recent report is based in the Hunter area and has been impacted by recent flooding.

More stones at The Bight Cemetery still lying broken and decaying on the ground. Picture: Janine Watson

Mr Stewart has been highly critical of what he says is shoddy work carried by council. He says there are large cracks filled and clearly visible in the stones that have been repaired.

He says a number of the graves were irreparable including one of his ancestor’s grave stones made of marble that can no longer be sourced and the lead no longer used for inscriptions.

He declined to comment on the recent report presented to councillors saying it makes him too angry and he has had to walk away.

“I had to step back and stop worrying and caring so much as I was getting really worked up about it,” he said.

“I’m not an educated person, I left school in year nine and have been working since I was 15. I wanted to rip them over the desk and drag them out the front when it happened but I was smart enough to know I can’t make threats like that.”

Mr Stewart’s father passed away after the stones were destroyed and he is not willing to lay him to rest at the cemetery until things are “put right somehow” but fears this may never be possible.

MidCoast Council did not respond to a request for an interview.