General News
5 June, 2026
Barry's Corner: Cemeteries
Every community across the country reveals its heritage by the engravings with the names etched into granite stones.
Reading the headstones can give a great snapshot into the history of the district and the pioneers buried in the graves.
There are stories of tragedy, success, connections and contribution.
Some cemeteries hold only a small number of graves yet the size of the surrounding reserve gives an idea of the foresight of those early planners trying to predict the future growth of the population.
Because there are not many burials in some smaller sites the ground is largely undisturbed and usually well fenced from wandering livestock and rabbits.
These remnant blocks of bush are often the only representatives of the former landscape.
This means there could be plants not often seen in other areas.
The site can sustain a seed type that is valuable for the Landcare processes which is always on the lookout for features of a tree that will sustain local survival.
The burial places in the goldfields have a lot of used graves in big cemeteries which reflect the huge number of residents and accidents along with mine disasters and diseases as well as massive toll on young babies and children.
In this year the goldfield towns are a fraction the size the former glory.
The vegetation is rather minimal most of it is probably underground being used for pit props and wedges.
Some districts only have small remnant vegetation along roadsides and reserves like cemeteries.
Who looks after these values the vegetation and this can be a shire initiative or the local community committee of management.
Because they are nearly all quiet and undisturbed rabbits soon make their presence felt.
Birds make use of foliage and any flowerings that will happen to cycle.
This a great refuge for reptiles such as snakes and lizards with plenty of hiding spots and food source if there is a dam close by.
We do not value our culture highly enough as other communities in some overseas religions where they build on traditions.
Cemeteries are associated with reflection, respect and quietness and should not be abused.
The possibility of some rare species is high the older the reserve.
Cemeteries hold a good part of our heritage, our story and understanding.
They could also become seed banks to help future populations make use of the seeds to revegetate some of those blank spots in all districts.