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Spooking up the old Linwood Cemetery
To most people, graveyards are spooky
places that give them the creeps, conjuring
visions of wolves howling at the moon,
vampires behind tombstones and roaming
zombies. That may be the case in Hollywood
movies, but not at the Linwood Cemetery. In the words of one visitor, it is a “grey, old
and rundown place” where vandals, rather
than vampires, roam free. In an effort to counter this, the Linwood
Cemetery Working Party, with help from
Year 7 (Form I) students from Linwood
Intermediate, is
working to put a
new twist on the
old style. They are
transforming an old
cemetery into. . . an
old cemetery. Rather than
modernising, the
workers are
restoring it. It is
hard work reassembling more than 120
tombstones. Many are like jigsaw puzzles,
while others lie toppled. Local people,
however, agree the place is looking much
better. So far the Linwood Intermediate
volunteers have planted about 250 plants on
the southern boundary while local people
have pitched in with the working party to
cope with the heavy work. The City Council has voted $100,000 for
the restoration work. Among the projects
are new gates on the main Butterfield
Avenue entrance, which will soon be
installed, new borders and the reassembled
tombstones and plantings. Also to be done
is the reinstallation of a section of old tram
track that now lies covered by asphalt under
the main driveway. One local says the place is “recovering its
dignity”, a prospect he thought was
impossible. Others say they are pleased it is
being restored and that the cemetery’s
heritage values are being kept. This is also important to the working party
members, who are keen to restore and
retain its natural feel. They say it might not
be a great picnic spot, but it will be a good
place to visit for a quiet walk. The famous and not-so-famous identities
buried there can rest with some dignity. All
that’s needed is no more vandals and a few
more people to look after their eternal beds. You never know, you might be buried there
one day so isn’t it nice to know someone
cares? |