Jennifer Pittorino
Parents, grandparents and loved ones have been devastated by the theft of plaques from the graves of children at Altona Memorial Park, sparking a conversation about stronger security.
The Garden of Little Angels is where Taylors Hill woman Ally Burns visits her daughter, Bella.
The garden is home to 1000 other children taken too soon.
Ms Burns was not alone in her devastation when she heard about the thefts which rocked the Hobsons Bay community ealier this month.
In a press conference on Friday, March 15, the day after the thefts, Detective Senior Constable John Randone said it appeared the plaques were stolen for financial gain.
Luckily Bella’s plaque remained untouched, but not all families are able to share the same relief as Ms Burns, with 75 plaques still missing from graves.
“There’s one directly next to my daughter’s that was taken. I have met that family multiple times, it is just heartbreaking,” she said.
“My heart sank. I was devastated that this had happened. I was so angry because I don’t understand how someone could be so heartless and destroy a memory of children.”
It has been eight years since Ms Burns was faced with the impossible challenge of making arrangements to bury her her baby girl, still as fresh as ever in her memory.
“We chose this area because it had a beautiful feel about it, it is very childlike it gives you this magical feeling,” she said.
As you walk past the small granite headstones, children’s toys, windmills, and flowers lie next to small plaques chosen and carefully picked by parents.
“Parents pour their heart and soul into this place to create a beautiful memory of their children,” she said.
“Coming up with a design for the plaque took me hours, making sure it was exactly how I wanted it.
“It’s very symbolic of their love for their child, so it’s like part of you was taken.”
Understanding that the Altona Cemetery is not at fault, Ms Burns said there could still be more safety measures taken.
“They have cameras and security set up at the front but at the back some more cameras could be put in,” she said.
“Or iron fencing or something around the outside of the boundary which would probably be the only way to stop them.“
The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) said the are a number of security measures in place at Altona Memorial Park.
This includes, but is not limited to, physical security, CCTV, and patrols. These measures align with Victoria Police advice and are regularly reviewed said a spokesperson.
“GMCT is continuing to support the affected families and has established priority processing channels with the insurer and suppliers.
“There is no cost implication for families. The processing time will be mostly dependent upon the individual nature of the plaques and the high number impacted.”
As of Wednesday, March 19, Victoria police told Star Weekly there were no updates on the investigation.
