Memorial wall in the works

By Lachlan Ellis

A local cemetery is planning a new project for the community, to acknowledge those whose ashes are scattered outside the cemetery, rather than buried at the site.

Member of the Maddingley General Cemetery Trust, Rick Dickson, said the memorial wall was still “very early into the planning stage at the moment”, but the concept was approved at the latest Trust meeting on 13 February.

“The memorial wall will be a dedicated place at the Cemetery for plaques to acknowledge the lives of people whose ashes are scattered somewhere else outside the cemetery. A memorial wall of this nature provides a historic record and gives families and friends a place to visit,” Mr Dickson told the Moorabool News.

“A memorial wall recognises that person existed. We already know we have keen interest in this proposed project. We have the design for the plaques already costed.”

The Trust has also agreed to name the memorial wall in honour of a long-serving volunteer, who is a familiar name to many in Moorabool.

“We are naming the wall ‘The Allan Comrie Wall’. The wall will read ‘The Allan Comrie Wall, For Plaques Acknowledging the Lives of People Whose Ashes Are Scattered Elsewhere’,” Mr Dickson said.

“Allan’s name will be placed on the wall in recognition of 40 years’ service to the Maddingley Cemetery Trust. This is an outstanding voluntary service record, and is worthy of permanent recognition. We have identified another five walls in the Cemetery grounds that could accommodate any number of plaques of this nature in the future.”

The concept has received generous support from Jim O’Rourke from O’Rourke Monuments, who not only backed the concept but also gave recognition to Allan Comrie’s 40 years’ service record by donating the wall plaque to the Cemetery.

For more information on the Allan Comrie Wall, contact the Maddingley General Cemetery on 0493 474 924.