NSW Health confirms cemeteries will remain open during lockdown after online complaints about accessibility

NSW Health has clarified that visits to grave sites during lockdown will be allowed to continue after confusion.

NSW Health has clarified that visits to grave sites during lockdown will be allowed to continue after confusion.

NSW Health has clarified that visits to grave sites during lockdown will be allowed to continue after confusion. Source: SBS

Mourners in Greater Sydney grieving the loss of loved ones have been assured they can leave home during lockdown for compassionate reasons to mark a death anniversary or pay their respects at a grave-site. 

An online petition about accessibility at the Rookwood Cemetery has gained about 10,000 signatures and the site posted about changes to its services on Wednesday. 

NSW Health has confirmed that under the current orders, cemeteries are not required to close. 

In a statement, it said a visit to a grave-site for an anniversary is permitted on compassionate grounds and members of the same household are allowed to gather outdoors.

"Attending a funeral or memorial service is a reasonable excuse to leave home," a NSW Health spokesperson said. 

Ten people can attend a service in Greater Sydney under the current health orders for NSW.
But the Australian Funeral Directors Association's NSW President Nick Maurer said he was aware of 60 attendees allegedly hoping to attend a funeral at Rookwood Cemetery before the number was reduced to ten.

"The funeral director worked with the police in order to have ten people attend the funeral and the other 50 people were dispersed," Mr Maurer said. 

He said he does not believe any cemeteries have shut during the lockdown to his knowledge.

"They are allowed to be open for compassionate reasons, allowing family members to attend and visit grave-sites," he said.

But Mr Maurer said there was a distinction between mourners attending a funeral service compared to paying tribute at a grave stone.

Rookwood General Cemetery's latest online advice on Wednesday stated a maximum of 10 people can attend a funeral or memorial service. 

It added that cremation and burial services will continue to be offered daily but one of its entrances was closed until further notice.
NSW Police patrol George Street in Sydney's CBD on Tuesday, 20 July, 2021.
NSW Police patrol George Street in Sydney's CBD on Tuesday, 20 July, 2021. Source: AAP
"I believe the NSW police had attended and blocked off an entrance to Rookwood Cemetery as there are several entrances," Mr Maurer confirmed.

He said this enabled better management of visitors at the location in western Sydney.  

The New South Wales AFDA said its member firms will provide the highest levels of safety for families, funeral staff and cemetery staff in this challenging time. 

"We will continue to work with cemeteries across the board to ensure that all funerals are compliant with current NSW health regulations," Mr Maurer. 

Rookwood also said that police will be patrolling the cemetery and may ask about a person's reasons for being there. 

NSW Police said that entrance and traffic management is a matter for the cemetery and on-site security.

"NSW Police officers are continuing to conduct proactive patrols across Greater Sydney to ensure compliance of the current Public Health Order," a spokesperson said.

"Additionally officers from Auburn Police Area Command will continue to make regular patrols of Rookwood Cemetery, and assist staff to ensure compliance of the current Public Health Orders."


Share
3 min read

Published

By Stephanie Corsetti


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world