Taphophile Tragics # 34

Many of the cemeteries that I haunt have imposing entries, usually with brick gate-posts and an ornate wrought iron double entry gate for vehicles, and a side-gate for pedestrians. Today, I showcase the formal entry to Waverley Cemetery in Sydney. There are more exits than entries, with the entries up the top of the hill, and the exits down the bottom. Make of that what you will!

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Welcome to the 34th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

Taphophile Tragics # 33

As I meander the headstones, I am seeing more and more of these plaques. Frequently, they are erected by descendents of 'fleeters', but not exclusively. However, they ARE left by descendents who are proud of their forbears and who wish to pay homage to their efforts and their grit.

The plaque for John Hill was erected in Camperdown Cemetery, beside a heavily weathered stone where one could JUST make out his name. He was done for having a counterfeit note in his pocket, and given 14 years for his troubles. He was 38 and left behind a wife with 6 children ranging in age from 11 to 1. All up, he married four times, but ... he was buried by his eldest son.

Rebecca Oakes was born Small, the daughter of two First Fleeters, born the year after the colony was founded. Rebecca married Francis Oakes, and bore him 14 children, Samuel died at birth, and Lucy died aged 9. That is a much lower proportion than I have seen in many other families. Rebecca's father died in 1850,aged 88, the last remaining FFer to die in the colony. Rebecca became a 'grande dame' of early Parramatta and is interred at Rookwood'

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Welcome to the 33rd week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

Taphophile Tragics # 32

Sometimes the expressions 'Never forgotten' and 'Always in our hearts' can be self-mocking, when one wanders around cemeteries. Of course, they are not, necessarily negated, just because a Resting Place appears uncared for. However, memory is often a treasured facility. Take this memorial out in Rookwood Necropolis in Section 12 of the Old Anglican section. Just general, rather than heritage.

This young lad, Leonard Madden, died in 1938 aged 10, meaning he was born in 1928. The headstone was dedicated by his parents and grandparents. Had Lennie lived, he would have been 84 this year. Making his parents about 110 and his grandparents about 135. So, who is replenishing these, admittedly fake, flowers. Even fake don't last forever.

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Welcome to the 32nd week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

Taphophile Tragics # 31

This symbol was on a memorial in Rookwood Necropolis for Francis Burdett Dixon, who was the President of the Trades & Labour Council of NSW. He died in April 1884, and is interred in the Old Anglican section of the cemetery. He was only 48 and died of lung disease. He had been a stone mason, as was his father before him. Not only was he the President of the Council, but he had been instrumental in establishing it. He has a long entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.

What I do not know, though, is just what this tied bundle of sticks symbolises. I do not think it is a form of 'fasces'.

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Welcome to the 31st week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

Taphophile Tragics # 30

The Hand of God, Rookwood Necropolis

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Welcome to the 30th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

Taphophile Tragics # 29

The top carving is from a monument in Camperdown Cemetery, whereas the bottom two were both from Rookwood Necropolis.

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Welcome to the 29th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

Taphophile Tragics # 28

The Old Anglican area of Rookwood Necropolis lives up to its name: it is quite old, and very unpretensious. It is mostly heritage listed, but not all. Some is left to grow back to its wild state, but other areas are well maintained. These three shots well its beauty tells.

And what drew me to the Old Anglican area? Specifically, AN G 1041 Puckeridge, Amelia ... come with me over to zee kasbah ...

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Welcome to the 28th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.