Barrunbatayi (Dreamtime) - East Kempsey Cemetery
Kempsey Shire Council, in partnership with the Aboriginal community and H & H Accredited Training Australia Inc, completed the second phase of its work in June 2009 to give recognition to unmarked graves at East Kempsey Cemetery.
The first phase of the reconciliation project, which involved surveying the East Kempsey Cemetery using non-destructive ground penetrating radar to determine the location of unmarked graves, featured close consultation with the Dunghutti community and the unveiling of a special ‘Lost but not Forgotten’ memorial plaque set in a large boulder at the cemetery in mid December 2006.
Information on the second phase of the project, completed in June 2009 and officially opened on 8 July 2009, is detailed on the fact sheet below (in pdf format). Adobe Reader is required to view this file.
A link to the photo gallery of the project and the official opening by the NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs , the Hon. Paul Lynch, MP, is also shown below.
The memorial project was made possible through the joint efforts of Kempsey Shire Council and H & H Accredited Training Australasia Inc, which was contracted to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to provide Work for the Dole participants.
Council is also keen to be able to allocate new burial space alongside existing burials in the Shire’s cemetery. For this to be possible it is critical that staff have accurate scanning and mapping of the existing burials when allocating new burial sites.
Anyone wanting further information about this project can contact Jennifer Colling or Tracey Edwards at Council on 6566 3200 or email ksc@kempsey.nsw.gov.au
