By CHRIS McCRACKEN
FUTURE plans for the Havilah Cemetery were discussed at a community meeting held at Happy Valley Hall on April 1, at the instigation of the Havilah Cemetery Trust.
Trust chair and secretary, Lorraine Hughes, explained that the B Class Cemetery was not officially closed, but had paused burials.
An area of three acres is officially gazetted, and less than a third has been used and will remain as the heritage cemetery.
Mrs Hughes said the Trust is assessing the viability of opening the rest to ashes interment and perhaps burials in the future.
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She said the bush cemetery is projected to commence operations within the next 12 to 18 months.
The site will serve various needs, including interments, historical research, educational talks, and visitor experiences that celebrate its cultural and historical significance.
The community meeting was part of the assessment of future works and will influence future discussions on a fee structure.
More than 20 people were in attendance, with some being descendants of people buried in the Havilah Cemetery (formerly known as Running Creek Cemetery) and wanting to know if their relatives would continue to rest there, while others were interested to know the history of the cemetery and how it would be cared for, and future plans.
Attendees completed a survey to assist the Trust with future planning.
They were asked if they were interested in using the cemetery in the future, and in what capacity, and if they were willing to volunteer.
Mrs Hughes explained what work had been completed since the Trust reformed and observed that there has been strong support from the Department of Health and Human Services, Alpine Shire Council, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and Bendigo Bank.
In 2021 the Trust carefully removed very tall trees from the heritage section of the cemetery.
Then in 2024 the rest of the trees were assessed for safety and this has now been addressed.
Now the Trust is directing funding to complete an outside border fence, with support from Nutrien Ag.
Attendee, Terry McCormack, a member of the Myrtleford & District Historical Society, said "It is a fascinating little bush cemetery and I wish we knew more about it. It was on a trajectory to be lost but all this interest enables it to continue to exist."
The heritage section of the cemetery was firstly known as Running Creek Cemetery when it was gazetted in 1889.
Like many small, early cemeteries it actually had burials before its official formation.
The name change to Havilah Cemetery was noted in 1926, when a local post office was established with the name Havilah.
This month's meeting underscored the necessity of community involvement in the cemetery, especially as there are only three remaining services in the Havilah and Rosewhite valleys.
For more information about the Havilah Cemetery and how you can contribute to its future, contact Lorraine Hughes at 0417 541 017.
