7 July 2009

KEMPSEY Shire Council in partnership with the Aboriginal community has finished work to give recognition to unmarked graves at the East Kempsey Cemetery.

The Reconciliation Memorial project began after inquires from local Aboriginal families, seeking assistance in locating unmarked graves of family members dating back to the early 1940s.

Work on the project started in 2006 when a section of the cemetery was surveyed and scanned, using non-destructive radar equipment to identify unmarked graves.

In all 81 graves were detected, some up to 90 years old.

Tomorrow at 10.30am a huge memorial ceremony will be held for those families who had family members buried in the unmarked graves. All are welcome to attend.

NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister Paul Lynch and community elders will be special guests at the East Kempsey Cemetery.

A memory plaque titled ‘In Memory of Those Resting in Unmarked Graves’ will also be unveiled.

Council’s Customer and Community Services acting manager Jo McGoldrick said the main motivation behind the project was to respect and restore the basic dignity of those who rest in unmarked graves at East Kempsey Cemetery.

“The cemetery is of very spiritual significance. There are many Aboriginal people who do not know where family members are buried in the cemetery,” Ms McGoldrick said.

Kempsey Shire Council took over the control of the East Kempsey Cemetery in 1967 from church groups and trustees.

Council’s administration officer Jennifer Colling and Aboriginal liaison officer Tracey Edwards were given the task to contact relatives of those discovered in the unmarked graves.

A rainbow serpent pathway through the area was established and a large timber cross erected.

The cross features a significant Aboriginal dreamtime story, painted by renowned artist Richard Campbell.

“The memorial, which will mark over 80 graves, will create a remembering place and, hopefully, this will bring the families some comfort,” Ms McGoldrick said.