A few thoughts regarding cemeteries in the Hawkesbury.....re the recent article in the SMH. Wilberforce Cemetery is indeed a very historical cemetery (as are the numerous final resting places dotted throughout the Hawkesbury Valley) and many pioneering families have family buried in Wilberforce. Members of the Hawkesbury Family History Group have recently re-transcribed & photographed headstones for a planned publication. Hawkesbury City Council is responsible for the upkeep of the grounds & the cemetery is covered under the Hawkesbury City Council's Local Environmental Plan which means it is on their Heritage List. The Council and the National Trust offers advice for families/individuals that wish to conserve certain historical headstones. It is important to remember that any restoration/conservation works on headstones needs prior approval through the Council. There are certain guidelines that are necessary to adhere to, i.e. what is acceptable and what are bad practices...In the past some enthusiastic family historians have actually damaged headstones due to poor advice & good intentions so be guided by the professionals. The National Trust have an excellent document on their website regarding Cemeteries called "Guidelines of Cemetery Conservation" http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/cemscontents.html Some suggestions include : "One of the most effective ways to ensure cemetery conservation is to encourage interest and appreciation within the community. This draws attention of both the general public and decision-makers to the value of the site and the need for maintenance. It also provides a basis for opposition in the event of unwise proposals for development or "improvement". Also....."The descendants of those buried are then encouraged to look after individual sites, improving the overall appearance and again discouraging vandalism. In time, the whole community will hopefully take a civic pride in the cemetery". A suggestion may be for interested persons to establish a "Friends group" that could assist with seeking funding from various bodies? Michelle Nichols _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com