The Narooma Cemetery Pavilion Project
The Narooma headland is a prominent spot on the ocean and, as such, receives the full force of the wind, particularly the strong, cold and often moist south-easterly and north-easterly winds.
About fifty percent of relatives of deceased family members now choose graveside services rather than church services, for the burials of their loved ones. At present services at the Narooma Cemetery are held in the open as there is no covered area on this exposed site, the vegetation at the cemetery is typically stunted coastal tea tree.
The Narooma Lions Club has adopted this project as a priority task due to the numerous requests we have received from local clergy, funeral directors and individuals for the provision of a shelter capable of accommodating up to 50 people at the cemetery. We have consulted with the local Shire Council who manage the cemetery and have agreed on a suitable site. Despite extremely tight budgets and additional cost pressures caused by a quickly growing population and the infrastructure needs of our major industry - tourism - the Eurobodalla Shire Council has promised to provide Lions with any requested technical assistance we need.
The Narooma's population is an aging one, in the Narooma - Kianga - Dalmeny area, 367 residents are over 80 years of age. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 35.45 percent of the area, or 1851 residents, are over 60 years of age. Coupled with a steady influx of retirees due to our coastal location this demographic is also growing strongly.
The Narooma Cemetery is large by the general standards of cemeteries of similar-sized country towns. It services the population not only of Narooma, but surrounding areas including Dalmeny, Kianga, Tilba and outlying areas centred around Narooma.
Our project aims to construct an all-weather pavilion at the Narooma cemetery to protect mourners from the elements and to cater for an increasing number of graveside services. It is also commonplace for relatives and friends of deceased to gather at the cemetery, particularly on special dates, to remember loved ones over a morning or afternoon tea and at the same time to tend the grave and lay flowers. The pavilion will provide a sheltered place to gather and reflect in relative comfort.
When the pavilion is built, the whole community, the relatives and friends of the deceased buried there, will benefit in that they will have access to shelter and reasonable comfort, and a comfortable place to meet.
Our growing but aging population places an increased demand to provide a greater level of comfort and protection from the elements at the cemetery, older mourners in particular need a place to shelter and sit during funeral ceremonies and when they visit graves of loved ones.
Narooma Lions expects to commence construction of the pavilion towards the end of 2007, with completion expected in early 2008.
The Narooma Lions Club has raised around $15,000 towards this project. Support from the local community has been overwhelming ... the Quota Club made a generous donation towards this project from one of its recent fundraising activities. The Dalmeny Deviates has donated $500 towards the project from its own fundraising efforts. Others have given generously of their time and resources. And the Narooma architect, Mr Phil Rose, has generously drawn up the plans and submitted them to the Eurobodalla Council.
On Friday, 16th November 2007, Mr Gary Nairn, MP, announced that the Federal Government will make available over $17,000 from its Regional Partnerships Program to ensure the Narooma community benefits from this worthwhile project.
The Narooma headland is a prominent spot on the ocean and, as such, receives the full force of the wind, particularly the strong, cold and often moist south-easterly and north-easterly winds.
About fifty percent of relatives of deceased family members now choose graveside services rather than church services, for the burials of their loved ones. At present services at the Narooma Cemetery are held in the open as there is no covered area on this exposed site, the vegetation at the cemetery is typically stunted coastal tea tree.
The Narooma Lions Club has adopted this project as a priority task due to the numerous requests we have received from local clergy, funeral directors and individuals for the provision of a shelter capable of accommodating up to 50 people at the cemetery. We have consulted with the local Shire Council who manage the cemetery and have agreed on a suitable site. Despite extremely tight budgets and additional cost pressures caused by a quickly growing population and the infrastructure needs of our major industry - tourism - the Eurobodalla Shire Council has promised to provide Lions with any requested technical assistance we need.
The Narooma's population is an aging one, in the Narooma - Kianga - Dalmeny area, 367 residents are over 80 years of age. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 35.45 percent of the area, or 1851 residents, are over 60 years of age. Coupled with a steady influx of retirees due to our coastal location this demographic is also growing strongly.
The Narooma Cemetery is large by the general standards of cemeteries of similar-sized country towns. It services the population not only of Narooma, but surrounding areas including Dalmeny, Kianga, Tilba and outlying areas centred around Narooma.
Our project aims to construct an all-weather pavilion at the Narooma cemetery to protect mourners from the elements and to cater for an increasing number of graveside services. It is also commonplace for relatives and friends of deceased to gather at the cemetery, particularly on special dates, to remember loved ones over a morning or afternoon tea and at the same time to tend the grave and lay flowers. The pavilion will provide a sheltered place to gather and reflect in relative comfort.
When the pavilion is built, the whole community, the relatives and friends of the deceased buried there, will benefit in that they will have access to shelter and reasonable comfort, and a comfortable place to meet.
Our growing but aging population places an increased demand to provide a greater level of comfort and protection from the elements at the cemetery, older mourners in particular need a place to shelter and sit during funeral ceremonies and when they visit graves of loved ones.
Narooma Lions expects to commence construction of the pavilion towards the end of 2007, with completion expected in early 2008.
The Narooma Lions Club has raised around $15,000 towards this project. Support from the local community has been overwhelming ... the Quota Club made a generous donation towards this project from one of its recent fundraising activities. The Dalmeny Deviates has donated $500 towards the project from its own fundraising efforts. Others have given generously of their time and resources. And the Narooma architect, Mr Phil Rose, has generously drawn up the plans and submitted them to the Eurobodalla Council.
On Friday, 16th November 2007, Mr Gary Nairn, MP, announced that the Federal Government will make available over $17,000 from its Regional Partnerships Program to ensure the Narooma community benefits from this worthwhile project.
Bob Burnside from the Dalmeny Deviates presents a donation towards the cemetery project to Narooma Lions Secretary, Lesley Connor, with Quota Secretary Barbara McCabe and Quota President Jan Gale
Lions Club member Graham Andrews shows Mr Gary Nairn, MP, the plans for the Narooma Cemetery Pavilion Project
The Narooma Cemetery Pavilion Project
We regret that the Narooma Lions Club is unable to proceed with this project.
We were promised funding under the Regional Partnerships Program by Mr Gary Nairn, the former Member for Eden-Monaro.
Unfortunately, with a change of government at the end of 2007, we were recently advised that funding to complete the project would NOT be provided by the Labor Government.
We appreciate that all residents and their friends and relatives will be as disappointed as we are in this project now being declared 'Dead and Buried'.
We regret that the Narooma Lions Club is unable to proceed with this project.
We were promised funding under the Regional Partnerships Program by Mr Gary Nairn, the former Member for Eden-Monaro.
Unfortunately, with a change of government at the end of 2007, we were recently advised that funding to complete the project would NOT be provided by the Labor Government.
We appreciate that all residents and their friends and relatives will be as disappointed as we are in this project now being declared 'Dead and Buried'.
Mr Peter Teggart, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Gary Nairn, MP, and Lions Club members Bob Carr, Graham Andrews, Glenden Andrews and Frank Moran at the Narooma Cemetery