General News
13 March, 2023
Funding boost for Eddington cemetery
The legacy of local residents is being preserved with cemeteries in the area sharing in grants worth $60,000 for maintenance and infrastructure purposes. As part of the State Government’s 2022-23 Cemetery Grants Program, the Eddington Cemetery...
The legacy of local residents is being preserved with cemeteries in the area sharing in grants worth $60,000 for maintenance and infrastructure purposes.
As part of the State Government’s 2022-23 Cemetery Grants Program, the Eddington Cemetery Trust received $7252 for grave shoring and safety lid while other beneficiaries in the Ripon electorate were Barkly, Dowling Forest, Skipton and Smythesdale — sharing in the funding to purchase equipment, conduct surveys and undertake works.
Apart from these cemeteries, 50 others across the state will also share in this round of grants which will see the government investing more than $600,000 to secure the long-term future of these sites.
According to Member for Ripon Martha Haylett, cemeteries play an important role in the community and the grants provide an opportunity to preserve them.
“Many of our local cemeteries are run by hard-working volunteers. They do so much to keep our final resting places beautiful and well-maintained,” she said.
“It’s important that we preserve these spaces for current and future generations — and to remember our local history.”
The cemetery grants program was established to provide funding as a contribution to the cost of cemetery infrastructure, amenities, maintenance, equipment and training.
Cemetery trusts may apply to the department for grants relating to specific issues at their cemeteries in circumstances where they do not have funds available for the required expenditure.
Grants are prioritised based on need — items relating to the maintenance of significant structures, such as fences, or issues which pose a threat to personal safety, such as dangerous trees, are generally considered priority issues. Standard items include equipment required for the operation of a cemetery.
Grant rounds are awarded twice a year, with applications for the current round closing on March 31. For more information and to apply visit the website health.vic.gov.au/cemeteries-and-crematoria.