AN Albury family which has six of its loved ones buried at the Glenmorus Gardens say they have hope after the council says it may extend an upgrade to the rest of the cemetery.
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The Albury Council began placing concrete beams in the children and babies section on Monday to raise the plaques up to stop grass growing over them.
A drainage system will also be built in the low-lying area to stop it from flooding.
For Albury hairdresser and preschool assistant Fiona Oliver, the news was disheartening for her and her family having requested for years that the council improve the area where her family are buried.
“It’s a very special place to me and my family and it should be peaceful and nice and maintained. It shows that those of us that are still around show a bit more respect if their resting place is a nice, tidy place,” Mrs Oliver said.
Both of Mrs Oliver’s grandparents; Alma and Raymond Boswell, two cousins; Duane and Jamie Boswell and two uncles; Alan and Brian Boswell, are buried in the section opposite the children and babies area in a low-lying spot at the front of the cemetery.
The plaques are placed directly in the ground and grass grows over the edges. On days like yesterday when there has been rain, the ground is soft and squelchy.
Mrs Oliver said the family have replaced the plaques several times after they were cracked from lawn mowers running over them, costing them hundreds of dollars.
“It does break our heart every time I go out there. It’s hard enough to go out to the cemetery,” she said.
But now, the family have been give hope after the council said they may roll-out improvement works to the rest of the cemetery after they were contacted by The Border Mail.
“The council is considering extending these upgrades,” commercial business team leader Mark Munday said.
“This will be a gradual process and funding will be proposed in future budgets to allow progressive upgrades.”
Mrs Oliver welcomed the announcement.
“It gives people like us a little bit of light to know something would be done,” she said.