Visiting Another Life
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
The other day I found myself driving past an old Cemetery, when I decided to stop by and view the resting places of so many lives taken so long ago.
The Kangaroo Ground Public Cemetery was founded in May 1851 after the burial of Judith Furphy, aged 9.
The Kangaroo Ground Public Cemetery was founded in May 1851 after the burial of Judith Furphy, aged 9.
Judith Furphy was the younger sister of John Furphy who later gained renown as the maker of the Furphy water-cart. Their brother Joseph also wrote the great Australian novel 'Such is Life'.
Judith's passing was caused due to a chill which proved rapidly life threatening, she was transported to Melbourne for special treatment but it was unfortunately not fast enough and Judith tragically passed on the 17th of May, 1851.
Judith was buried the next day, on Sunday the 18th of May, 1851; and will forever be remembered as the cemetery's first ever interment.
The Kangaroo Ground Public Cemetery along what that of the Eltham-Yarra Glen Road is the oldest working cemetery outside of Melbourne. There's such an eerie yet peaceful atmosphere present as you wander through the resting place of countless people and families.
My favourite Tombstone that I came across wasn't necessarily a tombstone at all, well not in the traditional sense anyway. The resting place of Albert Norton Jones is marked with a historic folding camera which has been planted up with a small succulent plant. The stunning photography device is propped up on a mental post which has an image of Norton Jones himself as well as epitaph that tells the story of his photography career. Albert Norton Jones was born in 1879, he owned a property called Golden Glen, located in Wattle Glen. He was a very busy photographer whom travelled all of the Diamond Valley Area recording every day events, street scenes as well as visiting homes to take family portraits. After he passed on March 9, 1956 his hundreds of glass negatives lay forgotten in the basement of Golden Glen, and it wasn't until the 1970's when the house was repurchased from Albert's widow that they were to be recovered once again.
Some of Albert's recovered images are now complied in a book titled 'The Diamond Valley Story' by Dianne H. Edwards which can still be purchased online or in local book stores today.
The Kangaroo Ground Cemetery is located on Menzies Road in Kangaroo Ground and to this day is still being used as a resting place for many beloved mothers, fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons and friends.
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