World beater buries the competition

Head chef Roxy Flores, horticulture team leader John Wright and client services consultant Samantha Dickason celebrate the award. 112931 Picture: ROB CAREW

By CASEY NEILL

SPRINGVALE Botanical Cemetery has been named the best in the world for 2013.
It’s the first cemetery outside the USA to win the American Cemetery Excellence Award.
Health Minister David Davis visited the 113-year-old site yesterday (Wednesday) and congratulated manager, Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust.
“As you look around these beautiful grounds it is easy to see why this cemetery is so highly regarded,” he said.
Independent trade publication American Cemetery Magazine presented the award, which South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Gordon Rich-Phillips said recognised the cemetery’s community engagement, innovation, performance, team spirit and ground maintenance.
See Monday’s Journal for the full story.