Tending neglected graves far from anywhere
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (346283)
Rockingham, Australia
February 13, 2025 3:48am CST
Kununurra is an isolated town in Western Australia. It’s 3,000km (1,889 mi) north of Perth and approximately 45 kms (28 mi) from the Northern Territory border. It’s at the far north-eastern end of what’s known as the Kimberley region.
Several years ago, a Facebook entry from a lady in the east coast, thousands of miles away, asked if someone could put flowers on the grave of her long-lost uncle. Christian Barnaby and his partner, Caroline Banton, not only put flowers on the grave but decorated it with stones, mulch and little toy trucks.
Since that first kind gesture, Caroline and Christian have tended many neglected graves. They gain permission first before taking it on themselves to keep graves weed-free and neat. One lady buried her two-year-old son in Kununurra after he drowned in a tragic accident. Caroline sends occasional photos of the son’s grave which brings comfort to the now 85-year-old mother. Caroline has similar stories about other graves as many of the relatives of the deceased are no longer in the area.
The photo is of a lonely grave on the road to our home town.
11 people like this
11 responses
@Namaco21 (240)
•
13 Feb
That’s such a beautiful and selfless thing for Caroline and Christian to do. Taking the time to care for graves, especially those that have been forgotten, is such a touching act of kindness. I can only imagine how much it means to the families who can’t be there themselves. The fact that they even send photos to loved ones shows how much heart they put into it. Small gestures like this really do make the world a better place.
3 people like this
@allknowing (140786)
• India
13 Feb
Cannot imagine anyone having such rare kind of interest. It takes all sorts and this time a good lot to make this world.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (52284)
• Canada
13 Feb
What a very kind and appreciative act, good on them.
Originally I thought the post had to do with the headstone condition.
The plots at the little country cemetery that my Dad's family (and our daughter) are buried, all include perpetual care with the purchase of the plot.
We were at the cemetery for Cemetery Sunday one year and my Dad noticed that one corner of our daughter's stone wasn't sitting quite level and since he was on the cemetery board, he advised my husband and I of it, and told us that he would call the very next day to have workmen out to shore up the base of her stone. That was included in the cost of the plot and a huge relief that we do not need to check on such things.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (141572)
• United States
13 Feb
That is very nice that people keep up the graves for those who can't anymore. I'm glad it gives solace to those still thinking about their loved ones so far away from them.
In my part of the US, it's still allowed for people to bury loved ones on their personal property. If the property is later sold, there is a rider added to the property title that the new owners will keep up the grave site. (When still riding the bus to and from school, there were a number of graves we could see from the bus windows on private property.)
My brother and his son still do the mowing and upkeep in the cemetery owned by our family.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (141572)
• United States
13 Feb
@Fleura Yes. My parents fenced off five acres of land they owned about 15 miles from where I live now and most of our family are buried there.
2 people like this
@Fleura (31006)
• United Kingdom
13 Feb
@DaddyEvil Wow five acres should serve several generations - unless American acres are a different size to British acres?
Did they have the ground consecrated and all that?
2 people like this
@FourWalls (71430)
• United States
13 Feb
That is so very sweet! What a blessing those two are to so many people! (Including me, for just reading about them.)
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (42400)
• United States
13 Feb
That is so heartbreaking, but inspiring to know of such kind people.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14917)
• Hong Kong
13 Feb
That is such a kind act, bringing comfort to many people.
1 person likes this
