Outcry as authorities strip decorations from Central Victorian graves

Central Victorian families are protesting a “heartbreaking” move to strip adornments off the graves of loved ones. Read the latest.

Grieving parents Marc and Anita Sertori son Charlie — pictured with his sister Katie — died when he was 18. He is buried at the Bendigo Cemetery. Picture: David Caird

Grieving families have accused authorities in Greater Bendigo of heartlessly confiscating personal keepsakes from graves across parts of central Victoria.

A petition with more than 5600 signatures has been posted online to protest the decision from Remembrance Parks Central Victoria to remove certain keepsakes and mementos.

Anita Sertori, who has been campaigning against the changes, said communication from the authority had been hard to understand.

“Some of the things that have been ordered to be removed have been there for 20 or 30 years,” she said.

“These items have not harmed anybody. And they are just being taken away.”

Grieving mother Anita Sertori's son died when he was 18. He is buried at the Bendigo Cemetery. Picture: David Caird

Several families have posted pictures online of headstones that have been damaged by the removal of keepsakes that have been prised off them. It has been branded “heartbreaking” by affected families.

Remembrance Parks Central Victoria said the decision to enforce an existing adornments policy was driven by safety concerns.

“RPCV would like to clarify it is not the intention to remove everything from grave locations, only items that make areas unsafe, cause damage to sites or encroach on other memorial spaces, lawn, shrubs or trees,” it said in a statement.

This update was one of many posted to the Remembrance of our loved ones Facebook page, by a family member impacted by the adornments policy of Remembrance Parks Central Victoria.

Wind chimes are on the banned list, along with alcohol, solar lights, pebbles, decorative fencing, ceramic, terracotta, porcelain, hardened clay and more.

Remembrance Parks Central Victoria chief executive Emma Flukes explained that grieving could be “a challenging process” and is different for everyone.

“During scheduled maintenance, old flowers and tributes that have withered or are damaged are routinely disposed of,” she said.

“We all have different views on how we grieve and how we wish to memorialise our loved ones. We are happy to work with Right of Interment (ROI) holders and families to discuss their concerns.”

She encouraged people to remove items that don’t meet the policy as staff work their way across all cemeteries.

“We have received feedback that people would like more detail on what they can place on grave locations so we are working on a list with photos which will be published in the near future.”

The authority has 11 cemeteries under its control and reports to the Victorian Health Minister.

Grieving families Peter and Pauline Burns with their niece Abby and Marc and Anita Sertori are angry decorations and trinkets will have to be removed from the graves of their loved ones at the Bendigo Cemetery. Picture: David Caird

Grieving parents Marc and Anita Sertori’s son Charlie died when he was 18. Charlie picture with his sister Katie.

Ms Sertori, whose late son Charlie was buried at the Bendigo Cemetery, said the rules were being enforced too harshly.

“I go to the cemetery every day,” she said.

“We have solar lights there for Charlie. It is really important to us.”

Ms Sertori has appealed to Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan, as her local MP, for help.

“Jacinta Allan has approached the health Minister on our behalf and she is waiting for a response. We really want Remembrance Parks Central Victoria to just at least pause what they are doing until we get a response from the health Minister,” Ms Sertori said.

Cemeteries under the control of Remembrance Parks Central Victoria include Axedale, Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Kangaroo Flat, Pine Lodge at Shepparton, White Hills, Donnybrook and Heathcote.

A spokeswoman for health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said she expected the managers of the cemetery to be respectful of grieving families.

“Remembrance Parks Central Victoria is responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of Bendigo Cemetery,” she said.

“The Victorian Government expects that the trust is respectful of grieving families’ adornments and valuables and communicates any changes appropriately and respectfully.”