So as well as visiting the Myers' grave Perry and I also did a reasonably thorough stroll through the cemetery overall. It was established in 1875 (so, about to turn 150) but I'd say it had its real boom period in the interwar period, hence the style of this unusual structure which greets you not if you come from the road (which is probably where most people come from?) but from the railway line side. 
There are quite a few rustically styled graves, a form you don't see much of and which I have to say I don't hate. I reckon these were really popular for only a few years in the 20s maybe into the 30s but I am speaking from a position of knowing absolutely nothing.
I am interested in this practice of putting a big tree (well, a small tree with a future) into these gravesite-sized plots. I suppose they might be graves which have lapsed but surely the tree planting is not accidental (I know what you're thinking but I'm pretty certain the dead person's last meal was not a tree seed).
Here's Box Hill's greatest shame, and not really a secret shame either - it's out there for all to see. I know everyone always makes these kinds of boring observations (so why can't I) - why do people go into jobs where they are required to make very permanent textual contributions if they don't know who to punctuate or spell?
I suppose it is possible that whoever Gladys' gravestone commissioner was, they insisted on the apostrophe. I suppose it's also possible, but much less, that she herself insisted on the apostrophe. I think more likely someone fucked up and no-one cared.
Here's a cheerier enterprise. I am kind of imagining a
D Gen Late Show-style scenario where Mick's accidentally had this made because he misheard 'when she died she had terrible bloating' as 'make it a ship'. But maybe not.
I am not totally against this, but I also don't really get it.
This one has survived remarkably well, looks as fresh as the day they put it there.
I love a turreted tombstone.
Aw shit, this plant we put on Uncle's grave has gone a bit crappy.
Is it dead?
No, just a bit crappy.
Well, throw it on the ground on the way out, that way everyone who passes will be reminded of the way we treated him before he died, and also, that life is brutal and fleeting.
Strangely, P & I passed through Box Hill again yesterday - in fact, we drove right past the cemetery. But we were going somewhere else yesterday. Actually, a few somewheres. Stay tuned.
5 comments:
Did I ever tell you my father was a funeral director? For a several years we lived in the funeral home in Kyabram complete with morgue, chapel & coffin showroom. After that we lived next door to the one he worked at in Shepparton.
I knew he was a funeral director but I didn't realise you lived in a funeral home. What brought him to that line of work
I think it was through a friend. Before that, before I was born, my parents ran a milk bar in Mooroopna and prior to that my dad worked for the Railways (also during WWII).
...which leads to another reality that had never really occurred to me. My father was born just before WW2 started, your father must have been at very least 15 years older than mine, born in the 1920s?
Late 1910s.
Post a Comment