Berri Cemetery Vandalism Recovery
Donation protected
RIP means Rest In Peace something the residence of the Berri Cemetery in South Australia definitely didn’t have on the afternoon of December 6th 2017.
In the South Australian rural town of Berri, part of the Riverland district, the local cemetery was vandalised and damage caused to at least 40+ gravesites including at least 6 children’s places of rest .
Whilst the children responsible for the devastating damages have been accatained, at this stage there appears to be no avenues the families who loved ones where effected can take to recover damage costs or find help to carry them out.
Unfortunately this will mean many of the graves damaged will remain that way., with many families simply not capable of covering those costs, again, on their own..
thankfully at this stage no granite headstones have been reported damaged, however at least ones memorial plaque has been destroyed. Leaving an unmarked grave for his own kids & loved ones to visit for Christmas this year and beyond..
The resting place of children, who’s parents had their favourite toys there for their child, that they would leave with there with their kids meanwhile, visiting is hard enough but those small toys helped, in so many ways.. a way for the little brother that visits to still play with their big brother, in a way, while they visit them, the way they used to play at home, Something for the parents & family members to fidget with as they sit beside the grave, imagining a life that could have been..
Nothing at a graveside is insignificant,, everything has a special meaning to those who loved them.. amongst the damage is large amount of glass, memorial lamps, glass boxes, ceramic, porcelain etc ornaments, Vases & features and other memorabilia, sustaining damaged or breakage throughout the cemetery.
While at the local council have done a fantastic job cleaning up & have stayed they have fully recorded all the damage so a full damage report can be accatained , there is no known help currently available, to any of the families effected, to repair or replace damage those things that meant so much to them, on their loved ones graves..
No one should have to bare these extra costs due to an act of intentional vandalism , all on their own. Grief on it own is a struggle for many, understandably..
as no support has been offered to date or possible avenues that families can explore for help, I’m asking the local community, businesses, friends families, tourists and the wider great Aussie community as a whole, to help out this rural community to restore Peace to their loved ones who are buried there..so they may again Rest In Peace.. if we don’t, it appears no one else will..
At this early stage there is no set damage value determained, , so a broad figure has been used.. the money will be used to repair and replace items throughout the cemetery.. no matter how big or small, every item matters to those who placed them there.
however if money raised exceeds the amount required for repairs, the remaining money will be used to try & secure security cameras for future security to the cemetery and if possible the other cemeteries in the local area.
NB: All monies paid out from this fund will be done so under strict guidlines and in consultation with authorities, to verify authenticity of the repairs or replacements claims.
In the South Australian rural town of Berri, part of the Riverland district, the local cemetery was vandalised and damage caused to at least 40+ gravesites including at least 6 children’s places of rest .
Whilst the children responsible for the devastating damages have been accatained, at this stage there appears to be no avenues the families who loved ones where effected can take to recover damage costs or find help to carry them out.
Unfortunately this will mean many of the graves damaged will remain that way., with many families simply not capable of covering those costs, again, on their own..
thankfully at this stage no granite headstones have been reported damaged, however at least ones memorial plaque has been destroyed. Leaving an unmarked grave for his own kids & loved ones to visit for Christmas this year and beyond..
The resting place of children, who’s parents had their favourite toys there for their child, that they would leave with there with their kids meanwhile, visiting is hard enough but those small toys helped, in so many ways.. a way for the little brother that visits to still play with their big brother, in a way, while they visit them, the way they used to play at home, Something for the parents & family members to fidget with as they sit beside the grave, imagining a life that could have been..
Nothing at a graveside is insignificant,, everything has a special meaning to those who loved them.. amongst the damage is large amount of glass, memorial lamps, glass boxes, ceramic, porcelain etc ornaments, Vases & features and other memorabilia, sustaining damaged or breakage throughout the cemetery.
While at the local council have done a fantastic job cleaning up & have stayed they have fully recorded all the damage so a full damage report can be accatained , there is no known help currently available, to any of the families effected, to repair or replace damage those things that meant so much to them, on their loved ones graves..
No one should have to bare these extra costs due to an act of intentional vandalism , all on their own. Grief on it own is a struggle for many, understandably..
as no support has been offered to date or possible avenues that families can explore for help, I’m asking the local community, businesses, friends families, tourists and the wider great Aussie community as a whole, to help out this rural community to restore Peace to their loved ones who are buried there..so they may again Rest In Peace.. if we don’t, it appears no one else will..
At this early stage there is no set damage value determained, , so a broad figure has been used.. the money will be used to repair and replace items throughout the cemetery.. no matter how big or small, every item matters to those who placed them there.
however if money raised exceeds the amount required for repairs, the remaining money will be used to try & secure security cameras for future security to the cemetery and if possible the other cemeteries in the local area.
NB: All monies paid out from this fund will be done so under strict guidlines and in consultation with authorities, to verify authenticity of the repairs or replacements claims.
Organizer
Lea Neldner Bland
Organizer
Katarapko, SA