Trust fund established to restore Armidale Cemetery
 |
Photo: Peter Ducat, Bryan Johnston, Caroline Gaden and Judy Grieve |
Armidale Dumaresq Council and the Armidale Family History Group have established a Trust Fund in order to help meet the cost of restoring damaged headstones and grave sites at the Armidale Cemetery.
A senseless vandal attack last weekend at Armidale Cemetery damaged or destroyed between 40 to 60 headstones and grave sites, with the cost of repairing the graves running into the hundreds of thousands.
Armidale Dumaresq Mayor Cr Peter Ducat said there had been a ground swell of community support following the attack, with community members coming forward to offer their support.
"The Council felt that the best way to enable the community to provide support was to establish a Trust Fund, with monies raised going directly to rebuilding head stones," Cr Ducat said. "Sadly, once the headstones are broken, they cannot be repaired, they have to be replaced. Some of those damaged were more than 100 years old and the lost heritage value can never be replaced."
The Council, Piddingtons and the Armidale Family History Group are in the process of identifying the damaged graves and headstones and contacting family members, as permission must be granted by the family prior to any work being able to commence.
The Armidale Family History Group and the Armidale Dumaresq Lions Club have offered support to provide volunteer labour resources to assist in the restoration. President of the Armidale Dumaresq Lions Club, Mr Bryan Johnston said "I appreciate the opportunity to participate in the meeting and our members will assist and offer our services as required".
Armidale Family History Group president Caroline Gaden said the gravestones were, in many cases, the only physical link left of an ancestor and, for people interested in their family's history, they may only be able to find other family members by the information on the stone.
"A local cemetery offers so much local as well as family history to the community," Mrs Gaden said. "Some occupations may be listed on the headstones; some names reflect those of the city's streets. All can lead to some fascinating stories, the history of our town.
"The Trust Fund will be a great help in the restoration of graves for people who may be unable to contribute financially or for graves where the location of descendents is currently unknown."
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Trust Fund can do so at the Council's Information Desk at the Council Administration Building, 135 Rusden Street, Armidale.
For further information contact Cr Peter Ducat on 0428 669 866.
Contact details
Cr Peter Decat
Tel: 0428 669 866
council@armidale.nsw.gov.au
