A GROUP of 11 women interested in preserving the graves of pioneers buried in the Dandenong cemetery at Kirkham Road and learning more about the history of early settlers in the area has just been formed.
It is led by Frances Bakker of Doveton who is seeking more historians to join the group.
“It all started when our members did a tour of the Springvale Botanical Gardens (the former Springvale cemetery) and a tour of the Dandenong cemetery was suggested. The idea of forming a ‘Friends of the Dandenong Cemetery’ was mooted.”
Mrs Bakker said a family history of pioneers buried at Dandenong from 1854 was being collected and members were busy updating the 1962 records.
The Kirkham Road cemetery is still being used at times and there is still space available where loved ones can be buried.
Among pioneers buried there are Henry Powis, members of the Foster and Walker families, the Norris family, George Dunbar, the Keys family, Malcolm McPherson (the first headmaster of Dandenong Primary School, and the Ordish family of Ordish Firebricks.
There have been three Dandenong cemeteries: Kirkham Road; a former cemetery at the corner of Thompsons and Dandenong-Frankston roads where a private house now stands; and another at the corner of Governor and Springvale roads, Keysborough.
The new friends group is working in conjunction with the Southern Metropolitan Cemetery trust. Mrs Bakker (0411 399 449) is appealing to Weekly readers to help with pictures of their loved ones buried at the Dandenong cemetery, anecdotes from the past, and cash donations to help with the expenses incurred by the friends group to expand their historical work. All pictures received will be scanned and returned.
School holiday fun
Thanks to the initiative of the City of Greater Dandenong, there are a wide range of activities planned to suit young people’s individual tastes during the forthcoming school holidays from July 3-15.
A holiday excursion to Luna Park is just one of the varied school vacation fun trips available for youth aged 12 to 25 years.
Other attractions during the early winter break include trips to Laser Tag, the movies and the excitement of go karting.
The council’s busy youth services team has arranged a series of events – some free of charge, the others low cost – but to avoid disappointment bookings are essential and there is a limit to the number of events each person can attend.
The Dandenong and Springvale libraries ask all those planning to attend attractions such as Tip Top Tom’s Magic Show and Mr Badger’s story of Wind in the Willows to make a booking as numbers catered for will be limited.
All events can be viewed by logging on to greaterdandenong.com.au. To contact the libraries, call 9238 1489 (Dandenong) or 9239 5398 (Springvale).
Do you have a milestone, memory or question for Marg? Email marg@yourweekly.com.au or post submissions to A Moment with Marg, c/o Greater Dandenong Weekly, PO Box 318, Dandenong 3175.
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