Takeover concern for trust

By Melissa Donchi
A STATE Government takeover of rural cemeteries would benefit larger cemeteries over smaller ones according to the Lilydale Cemetery Trust.
The Government’s decision to review cemetery trust management practices has caused the ire of many local volunteers who don’t see why things should have to change.
Upper Yarra Cemetery Trust member Ted Shalders said a government takeover would alienate volunteers and disadvantage small town cemeteries.
“The Government seems to think that all cemeteries are the same,” Mr Shalders said. “One of our biggest concerns is that the little cemeteries like the one in Upper Yarra will be left out while other bigger cemeteries will get all the attention.”
Lilydale Cemetery Trust CEO Wal Maguire agreed that little cemeteries would be disadvantaged in the long-term but said some changes could be beneficial.
“A lot of the smaller cemeteries run by volunteers will be affected,” Mr Maguire said.
“A cemetery like Wesburn would have to fight for dollars to maintain its facilities.”
The Lilydale Trust looks after Lilydale Memorial Park and Lilydale Lawn Cemetery as well as Yarra Glen and Healesville Cemeteries.
But Mr Maguire said the amalgamation 10 years ago was beneficial.
“The transformation of Healesville and Yarra Glen has been significant because those two cemeteries have been subsidised by the larger Lilydale cemeteries,” Mr Maguire said. “It really depends where they are situated and how they are operated.”
But the office of the Minister for Health Daniel Andrews said management problems within some of the cemeteries is the reason behind the Government’s decision to review the trusts.
“Today’s major cemetery trusts are multi-million dollar organisations performing a vital role for the community,” media adviser Tim Pigot said.
“There are 522 cemetery trusts throughout Victoria managing 564 public cemeteries.”
A final report has described three options for structural reform within the sector including the creation of a Victorian Cemetery Trust Board, a Victorian Cemetery Trust Board with further regional trusts or simply maintaining the current system.
But Mr Maguire said it was still too early to tell what would happen. “It’s not certain at this stage what will happen. We know there had been a review by the Government and a report made to the minister so we just have to wait and see,” Mr Maguire said.