By Gerald Lynch
This story was originally published in December 2024 and Star Weekly has chosen to share it again for readers to enjoy.
The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) has vowed to improve its operations, following community pressure around the “poor conditions“ at Keilor Cemetery.
The cemetery, on the corner of Cemetery Road and Ely Court, has been home to late locals for more than 150 years.
Continued mess and issues in the area have led to an uproar from the community, and the formation of an advisory committee.
Last week, eight members of the new group met with GMCT staff to discuss a range of issues including poor ongoing maintenance, overgrown weeds and lawns, a lack of amenities, poor accessibility for people with mobility issues and water pooling after bouts of heavy rain.
Group member and Keilor East local Sandy Spanos visits her son at the cemetery every day, often with his three children.
She said the maintenance of the cemetery hasn’t been good enough for some time.
“It’s a disgrace… They told us they take full responsibility, that’s great, but taking responsibility and taking action are two different things,” she said.
Ms Spanos’ parents are in the much larger Fawkner Memorial Park which is also managed by the GMCT, and she says the conditions there are “always pristine”.
“It’s (Keilor) not a big cemetery… Fawkner is massive, so how is it that the whole cemetery there can be pristine, and in Keilor they can’t even upkeep the garden beds?,” she said.
“I just want to be able to go there, and feel that my son’s final resting place is respected and peaceful.”
GMCT chief operations and people officer Dimi Patitsas said the recent meeting with community members will lead to improved outcomes.
“Our team recently met with members of the local community to discuss the ground conditions at Keilor Cemetery. At the meeting we agreed to establish a working group,” he said.
“We look forward to working together with the community to work through the concerns they’ve raised and put in place plans for action to ensure the Keilor cemetery remains a beautiful place to visit for everyone.“
Commitments have been made for additional street sweeping, extra bins in place at Ely Place and the mausoleum, and twice weekly rubbish collections during the Christmas period.
The first meeting of the new group will be Wednesday, February 12, at 1pm, at Keilor Cemetery.
