The Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery is located at Melway reference 45 F5

Friends of Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery (FOBKC)

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Friends of Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery is a not-for-profit group formed with the aim to support the Boroondara Cemetery Trust in promoting and preserving the Cemetery in the following ways
· Raising public awareness of the historical significance and national importance of the Cemetery
· Researching all aspects of the Cemetery and the lives of those interred there
· Liaising with institutions, interested groups, and descendants
· Conducting public and private tours and talks about the Cemetery
· Share and make available research materials and information between all members and the Cemetery Trust
· Holding regular meetings
· To do all such other things as are conducive or incidental to the attainment of the above purposes or any of them.

Our primary aim is to assist in promoting public awareness of the cemetery as a place of significant historical, social and cultural interest. In particular, that drawing the attention of the general public, historical, heritage and other community groups to the value of the Cemetery in this way would also, in time, persuade descendants of those buried there to look after individual graves. This would ultimately improve the overall appearance of the Cemetery and most importantly, discourage vandalism.

With the Cemetery Trust’s advice and guidance, as well as promoting the Cemetery, FOBKC could raise funds for the Trust to use in ways it sees as being advantageous to the Cemetery such as upgrading older pathways and/or the purchase of outdoor seating.

Ways of promoting the Cemetery and encouraging community interest:

REGULAR MEETINGS
We hold regular meetings throughout the year to promote the Group and the Cemetery, and would encourage guest speakers from time to time to attend these meetings. (see Contact page for dates)

WALKING TOURS
We conduct regular walking tours of the Cemetery. These tours may be be of a general nature, or target specific community/special interest groups such as local churches, art societies, schools or RSL clubs. Walks could be themed to take place at times when the rose gardens in the cemetery are at their best or at the time of the Grand Final with a visit to the graves of HCA Harrison and the Wills family (as an example). We levy a small fee to participants who join us on tours to raise funds and cover the cost of insurance. Currently we benefit from the original horticultural plantings of the cemetery, such as the unique type and array of tree plantings (which have encouraged bird life and provided wonderful Italianate vistas), the layout of the cemetery (such as clock tower/offices, rotunda and brick fencing). We highlight these on our tours and of course our Group would also emphasise the importance of the preservation of these aspects of the cemetery.

PAMPHLETS / SELF-GUIDED TOUR
FOBKC have produced an updated pamphlet/book of self-guided tours of the Cemetery. A long-term project would be a larger book of walks and historical information about the Cemetery. Production of this could be through funds raised by the Group and/or community support if available, and the book could be sold in the office if the Trust is agreeable.

NEWSLETTER
FOBKC publish a newsletter a few times a year which can be downloaded off this website). It includes the latest news/changes within the cemetery as well as information about the historical figures that are buried there. By charging a small fee for subscriptions, this could also assist to raise funds. More importantly, such a publication is a means of raising the profile of the cemetery within the Boroondara area and to the wider community.

EDUCATION
Liaison with other groups and education. We have already amassed a great deal of historical information about the more prominent people whose memorials are located within the cemetery, and would also liaise with other relevant groups such as historical societies, Heritage Victoria, the National Trust, genealogical societies, churches, schools, horticultural groups and other special interest groups such as war veterans groups. This would again increase awareness of the cemetery within the general community.

2007 - 2008 COMMITTEE
President                           Liz Hore
Vice President                   Tanya Warms
Secretary                           Tony Michael
Treasurer                           Cathie Shaw
Public Officer                     Gail White
Ordinary Member               Pauline Frampton
Ordinary Member               Glen Turnbull

2007 AGM Presidents Report can be downloaded "AGM 2007" (N.B. files 500kb PDF)

WEB LINKS
Any links shown on this web site to other web sites are provided for your interest only and Friends of Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery Inc. have no control over such sites and thus no responsibility or liability for their content; nor do links to other sites imply any endorsement of their content.

The Brighton Cemetorians Inc www.brightoncemetorians.org/ Brighton General Cemetery

Friends of St Kilda Cemetery Inc. www.foskc.org/

Boroondara General Cemetery (Kew) www.kewcemetery.com.au

Friends of Cheltenham & Regional Cemeteries Inc. www.focrc.org

Helen Harris OAM - Melbourne Cemetery Tours
                                                                     http://members.ozemail.com.au/~hdharris/cemetery.html

Keilor Cemetery Research Project    (contact Chris Laskowski)
                                                                     http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/keilorce/web/index.html

Bendigo Cemeteries Trust
www.bencemtrust.com.au

National Federation of Cemetery Friends UK
www.cemeteryfriends.org.uk/index.html

Friends of Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery Inc.
Reg. #A0049045R ABN 24382848139