Grave mess upsets family

The family of a man buried at Clareville Cemetery is distraught at damage that has repeatedly occurred at his grave site.

Isaac Carswell, son of the late Robin Carswell, said his father was buried at the Carterton cemetery two years ago and the grave site has been damaged several times since the funeral.

He said within a few weeks of the burial of his father, who was a long-time caretaker at Dalefield School, ruts had been furrowed across his the grave mound and flowers left from the service were spilled. He complained to the council and was told a tractor used to mow lawns had caused the ruts and in a lawn cemetery that was inevitable.

Mr Carswell said more damage was discovered about a year later, when flowers were cut in half and scattered.

In the latest damage, a small plaque bearing his father's name was pulled free from its anchor, leaving his mother, Bernadette, and the rest of the family deeply upset.

"We haven't put a headstone up for dad yet and we have a rock there instead. That looks like it's been knocked into the plaque.

"That's my old man and it's really all we have left of him now. It's because there's been no apology and no notice given to us that there was damage," he said.

"That's the worst thing about it all."

Brian McWilliams, community facilities manager for Carterton District Council, said the complaints from Mr Carswell had been investigated and the damage to the plaque had been repaired.

He said the cemetery caretaker used a hand-push mower near the headstones and the tractor in the rows between.

"As far as the ruts are concerned, it's a lawn cemetery and there is nothing else but to cross the graves when the lawns are mowed. It's inevitable.

"The flowers being scattered are another thing that is unavoidable. That happens," Mr McWilliams said. "And the plaques are temporary and do come away. That has been fixed."

Mr McWilliams was satisfied that the cemetery caretaker was performing well and the cemetery was well-kept and exemplary.

"We've had no other complaints besides those from Mr Carswell. What has happened, I believe, is beyond our control."