COUNCILLORS have shown compassion for grieving families burying their stillborn or very young children at local cemeteries, agreeing to reduce the associated burial fees by half.
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The move comes after a local funeral director contacted Council about a family facing $2555 in fees to bury their stillborn child in a family plot at Kenmore Cemetery.
The purchase cost of an adult plot at Kenmore Cemetery is $1100, with a triple depth internment charged at $1455.
On the family’s wishes, the child was buried at triple depth in the adult section of the cemetery, with the second and first level internments reserved for the parents’ future use.
There are sections reserved for stillborn babies at Kenmore Cemetery, which cost only $125 for burial, but for families that want to be buried together the costs involved are significant.
As a result of the request, Councillors recently approved a 50 per cent reduction in internment fees in the adult section for families suffering the loss of a child aged three years or younger, including stillborns.
R J Sidney Craig Managing Director John Crooks - who initially contacted Council on the issue - told the Post that he was pleased with the result.
“I believe that it show’s they’re empathetic to the needs of the community,” Mr Crooks said.
“There are children’s sections in the cemetery, but I guess in situations like these, and it is a sad situation, it’s nice that the family can be together.
“I can appreciate that Council have fees and charges for the graves, but it’s nice that they took the family’s needs into consideration,” he said.
Councillors unanimously approved the recommended reduction in fees without discussion.
