General Memorial Area

As we move toward the general Memorial Sections, take in the view of the Skyline of the Cemetery from one side to the other. This is the Historical Section of the Cemetery, most of the larger monuments are from around 1870’s to 1920’s when they were fashionable around the world. It is doubtful their like will ever be built here again.  Continue looking and you will note the monuments differ. Every shape and symbol has a meaning.

In front of us The Catholic Sections you can see the Celtic cross with its circle, representing power and eternity. The basic or Latin Cross, that, when placed on a three tiered pedestal-becomes a Calvary cross. The tiers represent: Faith, hope and love. The Budded or Bottonee Cross with its shaped budded ends: for shamrock, clover and eternity.

To the right are the tall Obelisks in different shapes. Some finishing in a pyramid, they are believed to come from ancient Egyptian times. Also the magnificent Columns, some mounted with an urn, derived from early Romans raising cremated ashes to the Gods. Later Christianity used the column and urn as a symbol, sometimes draped with a cloak or mantle to represent the shroud of the Lord.

Every monument has a particular interest. Gisborne and its surrounds were farming areas. The larger monuments represent families from the local Estates, with many marking the final resting place of successful Scottish farming families from the Toolern Vale area. In front of us the Irish folk from Bullengarook.

Where did the materials come from? The White Marble came from Italy. Grey Granite from Scotland.

Red Granite was quarried in Finland, transported to and worked in Scotland. What a costly exercise it would have been to transport stone to Australia by ship and eventually to here in the Gisborne Cemetery.

Famous stonemasons worked here, with their stonework found also on monuments in the major Melbourne Cemeteries. You can see the work of Chambers & Cluten, Simmonds & Hansen and Jaguers and Son, as well as local masons such like W.T. Jones of Kyneton and George Ferris of Castlemaine.

Most of the monuments have a symbol, a sign, or an emblem. In these sections, they are mainly of religious meaning, however some have connection with homeland for the pioneers were from faraway lands.  They made their home here in the New World, But the old country was still very much part of them.

There are angels, shamrocks, roses, a bible, various crosses and different flowers, each with a significance of its own.

– A Broken flower stem means a life cut short.
– An arch means victory over death.
– A scroll partly unfolded tells of life still to come.
– Hands reaching up to God, reaching down from God.
– A sheaf of wheat means life, and body of Christ.
– Clasped hands mean till we meet again in eternity (clearly a man and a woman, identified by their cuffs).
– Dove for love, purity, the Holy Spirit and resurrection.

Many graves are marked with the inscription I.H.S in various designs. One Interpretation is Jesus Hominum Salvatore (Jesus Saviour of Mankind). Some scholars say it means the first three letters of the Greek spelling of Jesus. Well, we all know scholars can never agree. So just keep a look out because there are many examples to be seen.

Symbols in the newer Lawn areas differ a little from times gone by. Plaques replace the elaborate structures, however some plaques still have the traditional signs clasped hands, Wheat, a cross. Many now have symbols telling of interests in life. A glimpse into how a life was lived.

Just to note, with a few exceptions, the graves all run east west, with the head at west. The old belief was at the second coming, the Redeemer would come from the east, and the departed would arise to face him. Often now in many local cemeteries space does not allow the old traditions to be adhered to.

One old local farmer went against the trend; he requested to face the sun and the mountain on the edge of a path so he could see whoever came past. And that’s exactly where he is.