When Angelique Jasli went Rockwood Cemetery at Sydney’s inner west to visit the grave of her mother, who passed away in 2015, she was turned away as NSW Health had found visiting a grave was “not a reasonable excuse to leave home”.
She held an online petition, addressed to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard, as the rule did not make sense to her. After gathering 10,669 signatures, the petition managed to overturn the decision.
Ms Jasli could not understand why funerals of up to 10 people were still allowed at the cemetery but private mourners were being turned away, and she also said the rule made even less sense as residents could still walk through the graveyard for exercise.
“There is a lot of grief people are dealing with and having that situation is only making it worse,” she told 2GB in regards to her online petition which managed to facilitate change.
“We need visiting the grave of a loved one to be considered a reasonable excuse.
“Imagine having recently lost an immediate family member, having to bury them with the current restrictions and now being locked out of the cemetery where you have just laid their body to rest.”
A number of Greek Australians were particularly vocal when signing the petition.
“Our ability to visit our living family has been taken from us. Don’t take away our right to visit those that we love that have passed. Everyone that goes to the cemetery is respectful of each other and just want to grieve and pray for the family they have lost. Has the government lost sight of this?” Maria Dimitriadis said.
Tina Lagoudakis, who signed the petition, said: “I want to be able to visit my dad and grandfather! The cemetery gives me peace and validation that my loved ones are always with me. This is essential for everyone’s sanity. Definitely a compassionate reason to leave home!”
A NSW Health spokesman said residents in Greater Sydney are allowed to leave home for ‘compassionate reasons’, which include visiting a loved one’s grave, however the department listed only specific circumstances such as a recent death in the family or anniversary of someone’s passing as sufficient reason to leave home.
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Cemeteries, including Rockwood, are now allowed to remain open.
