A media report claiming damage at the Buninyong cemetery to be the work of hoons has left members of the Buninyong Cemetery Trust scratching their heads. The article, published on Monday morning by another media source, incorrectly reported that "hoons have vandalised the historic Buninyong Cemetery", which was not the case. The 'vandalism' actually came from machinery used in burials over the weekend while the ground was waterlogged. Chair of the Buninyong Cemetery Trust, Barry Fitzgerald, called the article "a complete beat-up" when speaking to The Courier. He said that there were two areas of the cemetery that suffered minor surface damage over the past few days because of the very wet conditions in some areas. One area was in the vicinity of the cemetery's Ash Gardens where someone visiting had driven off the made roads and had had problems turning a vehicle in the wet areas near the creek, resulting in some skid marks on the grass. The other was in an area of grave sites where the gravedigger had to drive an excavator and another vehicle carrying the required safety cage along a section to gain access to a site needed for a burial late last week. "The heavy recent rains have made this perfectly usual routine a problem right now, but top soil will be spread to repair damaged areas within the next few days," he said. Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
A media report claiming damage at the Buninyong cemetery to be the work of hoons has left members of the Buninyong Cemetery Trust scratching their heads.
The article, published on Monday morning by another media source, incorrectly reported that "hoons have vandalised the historic Buninyong Cemetery", which was not the case.
The 'vandalism' actually came from machinery used in burials over the weekend while the ground was waterlogged.
Chair of the Buninyong Cemetery Trust, Barry Fitzgerald, called the article "a complete beat-up" when speaking to The Courier.
He said that there were two areas of the cemetery that suffered minor surface damage over the past few days because of the very wet conditions in some areas.
One area was in the vicinity of the cemetery's Ash Gardens where someone visiting had driven off the made roads and had had problems turning a vehicle in the wet areas near the creek, resulting in some skid marks on the grass.
The other was in an area of grave sites where the gravedigger had to drive an excavator and another vehicle carrying the required safety cage along a section to gain access to a site needed for a burial late last week.
"The heavy recent rains have made this perfectly usual routine a problem right now, but top soil will be spread to repair damaged areas within the next few days," he said.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
