Life among the headstones
Visitors to any one of the eight cemeteries and memorial parks that the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) cares for are immediately struck with how much beauty, and life, exists within the grounds.
Featured image above: Acer rubrum, Norway Maple leaves unfurl like slowly burning embers at Springvale Botanical Cemetery - Image: Debra R.
It is no wonder that many people enjoy walking through our grounds. This is because cemeteries were historically set up as park lands designed to be used by the community for a variety of purposes. Ask any of our staff what it's like to work at a cemetery and words like 'beautiful', 'natural' and 'serene' are mentioned well before 'tombstone' or 'gravestone'.
Most of us have images on our smartphones of scenes we've been moved to capture during our workday. Photos of the seasons unfurling before our eyes, or the wildlife that 'works' alongside us in our shared habitat. Photos that show life among the headstones.
Scroll down to see some of our favourite images from SMCT employees. These show the founding principles of cemeteries as multi-purpose, community assets are still very much in evidence, and continue to hold true in our commitment to preserve and enrich the cemetery park lands entrusted to our care.
We hope these images inspire you to visit us at any one of our eight distinctive sites and take photos of your own, or why not take a tour and learn about the environmental, historical, cultural and artistic significance of cemeteries?