Cemetery staff require professionalism, discretion, patience

"It doesn't matter whether people are buried or cremated, their friends and family need a place to leave flowers and think of them. We want to make that place as pleasant as possible," says Mick Rooney the Council's Cemeteries Project Leader. Mick and his staff oversee more than 800 burials a year, smoothing the way for funeral directors and mourners. Working in his job since 1983, Mick has played a key role in hundreds of funerals. Technology has not altered the work done by cemetery staff. Conditions often stop machines being used to dig graves, meaning around half are still dug by hand.

Professionalism, discretion, patience and sympathy are key qualities for the job, according to Mick Rooney.

"Time means nothing. You can spend an hour and a half with someone choosing a plot, and that's fine, you have to give them the time they need. It's an important decision - it's not something that can be rushed."

Mick is conscious of the need for everything to be just right for funerals. A Council staff member always attends to see nothing goes wrong.

"It doesn't matter to the family and friends if we do 1000 funerals a year they're concerned about just one. But for us every person is as important as everyone else," he says.

After 14 years Mick Rooney says he still finds it a satisfying and enjoyable job.

"It can be stressful, because you can become quite emotionally involved, but it's also very rewarding working with people."

September 1997 City Scene ~ City Scene Archive