Memorial plaque installed at Havelock Cemetery after nearly 100 years

The memory of a baby girl who died in the 1930s was recently honoured at Havelock Cemetery.

Parks and Open Spaces Officer Grahame Smail said a request to install a memorial plaque came via the baby’s brother, who wanted to pay tribute to his sister.

“The gentleman’s baby sister died in the 1930s and a headstone was not erected. This was during the Great Depression when times were very hard, and this may have been the reason,” Grahame said.

“Fortunately, their mother had shown him the burial spot, and we were able to arrange for a small burial beam to be placed at the cemetery, enabling a plaque in loving memory of his little sister to remember her.”

Council has also undertaken some cemetery restoration work at Havelock Cemetery during recent months.

“Looking after headstones and grave structure is really the domain of family descendants. Over time there is often no longer any family around, and to ensure heritage graves remain safe and in reasonable order we undertake some of this work,” Grahame said.

Each of the eight Council administered cemeteries has a dedicated cemetery plan which outlines improvement work and key information.

Improvement work undertaken recently includes:

• Awatere/Seddon: new ashes and burial beams, upgrade of the services area and replacement flagpole
• Fairhall: reseal of car parks and new accessibility paths, signage and plantings
• Flaxbourne/Ward: new plantings and flagpole
• Havelock: reseal of road accessway and car park, restoration of heritage grave structures
• Picton: installation of new seating and services area handrail
• Omaka: new plantings and trees, car park, shelter and seating
• Rai Valley: upgrade of the services area and replacement flagpole
• Tua Marina: new plantings and burial beams

Council cemeteries consistently attain a high satisfaction level with the public, which is largely attributed to a strong commitment to manage and care for the cemeteries.

“This includes good planning and having committed Council and contracted cemetery staff, as well as funeral director services all working together for the benefit of cemetery users,” Grahame said.