While families came to Karrakatta Cemetery for a quiet Mother’s Day, the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB) ramped up its silent push to erase history. Members of Saving Family Headstones at Karrakatta (SFH@K) were there to peacefully inform the public of what’s really going on beyond the gates and warning signs.
Our group members — many of them seniors with loved ones buried at Karrakatta — aimed to inform visitors about the removal of thousands of historical headstones over the past 55 years under the redevelopment (“Cemetery Renewal”) program, including those of WA pioneers and war veterans. We believe these removals are being carried out without proper public consultation, and that this erasure of WA’s tangible history must be stopped.
“Our presence was peaceful and community-minded. We simply wanted to support families visiting on Mother’s Day and to raise awareness about the importance of preserving WA’s cemetery heritage.”
Carolyn Trigwell — SFH@K Founder
Despite our group’s respectful intentions, we were met with a heavy and unexpected security presence throughout the cemetery. Never before have we seen so many staff at the front entrance — including the MCB’s Chief Executive Officer, Kathlene Oliver — as well as police patrols and security guards (one permanently stationed right next to us). This display created an atmosphere of tension and gave the impression that SFH@K members — everyday citizens exercising their democratic rights — were unwelcome in a public place.
We wish to thank everyone who came to show their support. In particular, we thank Jonathan Huston MLA, the new member for Nedlands in the WA Parliament, for being there with us.
We also greatly appreciate the local media’s ongoing coverage, including that by Lloyd Gorman from The Post for publishing the group’s story after it was denied access to set up a stall on cemetery grounds, as well as Ben Harvey from The West Australian for his reporting on how the program is affecting war veterans.
SFH@K remains committed to honouring the memories of those laid to rest and will continue to advocate for transparency, accountability and respectful community dialogue in the management of Karrakatta Cemetery — a public and historical reserve of significance.
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