FOSBC People
What I have learnt volunteering at South Brisbane Cemetery
About 2 years ago my sister tagged me in a Facebook post about the Guardian Angels of the South Brisbane Cemetery. Having grown up in a family that appreciate and promoted a love of history we were interested to see what volunteering would look like. My sister Sarah and I decided to give the Guardian Angels volunteering a go.
A quick drive up the M1 from the Gold Coast and we first met with Tracey from the Friends of South Brisbane. Sarah and I were greeted with warmth, kindness and enthusiasm. We soon met Chris and other volunteers who have now two years later become friends. Learning the difference between types of stone and methods of cleaning was interesting and we were hooked from the first day.
What I first learned about the cemetery is how special the
place is. The austere entry of Annerley Road leads down the hill to the centre
of the cemetery. Large jacaranda trees when in bloom create carpets of rich
purple that have a magical feel. When rainfall has been plentiful the grassed
areas are a deep, lush green and live up to the parklike feel that previous
Brisbane City Councils have aspired to. The cemetery overlooks the Brisbane
River and is prone to flooding and many a night of heavy rain has cemetery
volunteers worried about what the morning may bring. As the river rises, drains
fill, nerves fray and volunteers call in to survey the damage. This historical
place teaches me every time I am in it. It may be thinking about the nationality
of the people that made up the Brisbane landscape, it may be about the stone,
symbols and monuments or it may be about the people that make up the merry team
of volunteers.
The people have been one of the best things about
volunteering at South Brisbane Cemetery. I have met so many interesting people
that we may never had met in our everyday work and social lives. The
volunteering group are a special mix of retirees, amateur historians, students
and those who are still working but love to give back to the community as a
form of service. Many of the volunteers have special skills that have been utilised
in maintenance, administrations and special events at the cemetery. My sister
and I have worked as teachers for many years and our loud teacher voices have
been utilised when directing teenage volunteers and welcoming people on open
days.
We have learnt many things while volunteering. One of the most important things is that every little bit of help when volunteering count and is appreciated. Due to work and family commitments Sarah and I always do a morning shift cleaning at the cemetery. Even thought it is a small commitment we have always felt part of the “Angels” team. I have also learnt that Tracey really knows how to put on a morning tea and bake a killer cupcake. One of the nicest things after scrubbing all morning is to have a cuppa and a cupcake baked with love – Delicious. The last big learning is that there are graves that are satisfying to clean and others that are less than satisfying. The type of stone, the layers of dirt and mould and the hard landscape work required around a grave can either elevate or minimise the satisfaction level. A seasoned grave cleaner knows when to continue on the cleaning quest or when to call it a day and be ok with even with small improvement made.
The benefits of volunteering at the cemetery are many. For
me it is about understanding and revering a place that has historical, cultural
and humanistic importance. Connecting and meeting with a diverse range of people
is beneficial and rewarding. Doing service for others helps me to remember
there is a wide world around us and small sacrifices of time can pay us back
tenfold. When a member of the public can find their loved ones grave because we
have cleaned and maintained it – what a gift to give someone.
Melissa Taylor Hansford